Kepi Blanc - French Foreign Legion

This site: Missions: Misc: powered by bravenet.com Last update: 7 Aug. 2008 © Zdenek Busek Photos are courtesy of Zdenek and other members of the 2REP.
	Dedicated to our son who left us in June 2002 to pursue his dream of kepi blanc. We all miss you Zdendo, but we wish you all the best and good luck in your future life. Never give up on what you really want to do.
	In every man and woman's life there comes a time of ultimate challenge - a time when every resources we have is tested. A time when our faith, our values, our patience, our compassion, our ability to persist, are all pushed to our limits and beyond. Some people use such tests as opportunities to become better people - others allow these experiences to destroy them. Anthony Robbins, Unlimited Power.
	One Legionnaire's Experience: "... That same day I was taken to the main Legion Entrangere (LE) Headquarters at Augbane. All my possessions were taken from me. They left me with only the bare essentials - shaving cream, my Mach 3 razor, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, my Nike runners and dad's Tissot watch. Oh, they also let me keep the French phrasebook that A. bought me. All the rest was locked away deep down in the Augbane "magasin" clearly labeled with my real name, but who knows when it'll see the light of day again. ..." more...
	French veterans to lead Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) Anzac Day parade Posted Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:06am AEST This year's Anzac Day parade in Brisbane will be led by a group of French military veterans. The RSL says the move recognises the contribution made by French soldiers who fought alongside Anzac and other Commonwealth forces at Gallipoli. The French veterans will carry four flags at the front of the parade, honouring French marines, medal holders, veterans and their Foreign Legion. The parade begins at the corner of Queen St Mall and George Street at 10:00am (AEST). Most general histories of Gallipoli barely mention the French. But at the peak of their involvement, there were about 42,000 French men serving in Gallipoli and up to 15,000 of these men died there. There is vivid testament to this on the peninsula of Gallipoli today where, in the French Cemetery above S Beach, there are over two thousand individual grave markers as well as five huge white ossuaries each containing the remains of up to three thousand men. More... Australian Diggers on exercise with Foreign Legion Australian Defence Force troops are taking part in a combined military exercise in New Caledonia. Troops from France, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Tonga and Papua New Guinea are also taking part in the operation. This morning members of the French Foreign Legion will parachute into an airfield near Koumac. A beach landing will also take place further north. The exercise aims to improve cooperation and communication between the countries in the event of a natural disaster, like a tsunami or a coup in the Pacific. The article was taken from the ABC news - more on French Foreign Legion in New Caledonia here ... Back on line the hosting server is back on line after few weeks of breakdown - new updates from January onwards have been lost, my appology for being off line for some time. A new plague dedicated to Australian commando units fought in WW2 by Dr. Ross J. Bastiaan has been installed in Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory NP. More ... A Christmas far away from home for troops in Afghanistan Christmas on mission is a time for reflection and sharing, says a French officer among the thousands of NATO soldiers spending the festive season far away from home in Afghanistan. Full coverage ... Peacekeepers Deserve Piece Of History THERE are things about your family that you never know until you ask questions you normally wouldn't ask; things like how your older brother, at the age of 28, ran into a minefield in Cambodia to pick up a six-year-old girl who had her leg blown off by a tiny jumping jack mine More ... The article was taken from the Daily Telegraph and It highlights the purpose of peacekeeping forces around the world, including the French Foreign Legion. I included this article because the French Foreign Legion still has its image as a refuge for people running away from the law or running away from their past. But the main role of the French Foreign Legion nowadays is peacekeeping missions - anywhere they need to stabilize the potentially dangerous situation, especially in the previous French colonies in Africa. These men from around the world, serving under one flag deserve more respect that they have. The image must be changed, the traditions must be kept. Elite Snipers From Around the World Meet in Canada for annual Canadian International Sniper Concentration and competition. French Army is represented by a team from 2 REP (coach, sniper and spotter). The selection was based on the French Army sniper competition held early this year. I included an archive article from Canadian Army web site from the event held in 2004 ... Gagetown Canada French Foreign Legion proves that nationalism not only a product of ethnic origin European TV stations broadcasted the ceremonies marking this weekend's Bastille Day and much time was devoted to the resplendent military parade that went through the Champs Elysees as it does every year. According to tradition, the parade ends with the French Foreign Legion, wearing their white hats and red shoulder tassels while marching their slow steps – exactly 80 steps per minute. more ... Anzacs plaques around the world - have you spotted one? I have always been amazed by people who do things with passion regardless what their reward is or what other people think of them. Such is Dr. Ross Bastiaan, a Melbourne dentist who has invested a great deal of his time and money designing and installing plaques commemorating Australians served at war. From South Africa to Gallipoli, Flander Fields to the Kokoda Trail, more than 160 plaques tell the stories of Australians at war. The plaques are in London, Canberra, Balikpapan in Borneo, Tobruk and Singapore, just about everywhere the Australians have fought. more... I would like to include a chapter dedicated to Australians at war into this web site and would like to ask you for a help - if you come across one of the plaques created by Dr. Ross Bastiaan - could you please email a picture of it to zdenek@iprimus.com.au (and please include the subject 'kepi") - the picture if published will include name of the author. Thank you. News archive ...