The history of the French Foreign Legion's wooden hand

[@angellopez-negrin2002]

I’m at the 2nd parachute regiment in the French foreign Legion. Once we finish basic training before everyone goes off to their designated regiment, we have a ceremony where we get to see the wooden hand of Capitaine Danjou at Aubagne. It’s an experience I’ll never forget

[@Max-zr7hr]

Hi! I'm a history guy! I don't have a history degree but i listen to history podcasts and videos and then bother my friends and family with long stories about obscure things they aren't interested in but I find facinating! :) Thank you for your awesome videos.

[@Notyours09]

I do the same thing.

[@waski672]

I too, we should start a club.

[@baphtomet]

That's me...

[@garyhein1554]

Hey guy can you check out can you do me a favor can you check out all the demigods around the world and when they put the beast in the Bible the dirty Beast if not I'll watch you any I think you're awesome

[@davejones5640]

@@garyhein1554 Huh?

[@pins0311]

I had the honor to work and train with the Legionnaire while I as deployed in Africa some years ago. I was/am an 0311 in the Marine Corps Infantry and also a member of a lesser know group of Marine Corps special operation units know as the assault climbers. I thought I had gone through some pretty tough training, I had been on operations with SEALS, 10th Mountain, and our own Recon guys but the Legionnaires continue to stand out as some of the most outstanding warfighters I have ever met. I spent time with one of their paratrooper regiments at the mountain training center in Djibouti and was completed humbled by how intense their training was compared to ours. I will always have respect for the men who have earned the Kepi Blanc.

[@lucasmaurin6414]

Ah finally a real history channel that goes beyond repeating facts and actually offers context and analysis about the topic at hand. Great!

[@stefanschleps8758]

Oh how I love this story. How can I not? I was born in Paris. And looked up to the Legion with high regard decades before I've heard this story. And the ignorant say the French are cowards! Say that to their face. Merci Monsieur.

[@MrJamesjustin]

My Dad was in the Foreign Legion for a while. A very cool bloke.

[@ddgallion]

I have always remembered something my grandfather, a former military man, taught me. He told me the reason it is important to recall deeds of great courage and valor is because if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, you know what is expected of you.

[@georgeb8701]

What legends are made of. Bravery exemplified. Respect bought and paid for in blood. As a proud U.S. NAVY veteran I salute them. ✌🏻🇺🇸

[@-jeff-]

One of my more interesting experiences in Desert Storm was meeting a unit of Legionne Estranger and finding an American in their ranks.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you for your service!

[@-jeff-]

And as when you said the same in a previous reply: Your welcome. (The DEW Line history?)

[@VikingGruntpa]

I was an infantryman in the 101st during desert storm and met some Legionnaires in a Saudi town after the shooting stopped. Those were some of the few people I've ever felt I should move aside for. They're hard, professional men and I respect them greatly.

[@paulkolodner2445]

@@leondillon8723 It's "Légion étrangère".

[@-jeff-]

@Paul Hastings1066 My USAF unit was deployed to King Khalid Military City along with units from most every country that was involved in the war. The Legionaire in question we met at an ersatz BX that was set up.

[@rdfox76]

Something that goes to show the level of respect that the Legionnaires at Cameron still command--to this day, whenever a Mexican Army unit passes the site of the battle, they stop to salute the French Foreign Legion's bravery that day.

[@tonybaloney8401]

@victor soto did you even watch this video?

[@tonybaloney8401]

@victor soto whatever makes you feel smarter than everyone else

[@tonybaloney8401]

@victor soto "well read" Can't read my name

[@tonybaloney8401]

@victor soto I'd like to hope you're a child, which would explain the insults and superiority complex, but I doubt that's true

[@Finwaell]

@victor soto don't troll when you don't know how to.

[@nickrenaud4936]

I've always been a big fan of history, but since I started working at the Henry Ford Museum, I've become almost numb to the excitement of the past. You do a fantastic job with this channel and put that fire for knowledge back in my chest! Thank you, History Guy, and keep up the good work!

[@jgvtc559]

@J S he sounds disenchanted with it

[@lesleeherschfus707]

A Detroiter!!

[@almilani4300]

I've been to the Henry Ford museum and I was VERY IMPRESSED. MY GIRLFRIEND WHO LIVED IN DETROIT HAD A HELLUVA TIME GETTING ME OUT OF THE PLACE AND ONLY WHEN IT CLOSED FOR THE DAY WAS I FORCED TO LEAVE !

[@shawngilliland243]

When I was a boy, I read the story of Legion by Wyatt Blassingame, which included Camerone and the famous wooden hand of Capt. D'Anjou. I wanted to run away and join the Legion. I never did, but stories of the Legion fascinate me to this day. This is one of my favorite of your many videos, History Guy. Thank you for another superb account of history that deserves to be remembered.

[@TCFamas]

Had the honor to see the hand on Cameron day 1998 in Aubagne. Damn time flies by....

[@ronansteasi4950]

I visited the legion museum in 1983, while in US Navy. Beautiful place and since I was military, I had the honor of seeing this relic.

[@aucuneideejsp8891]

Château de Vincennes ?

[@Zorglub1966]

@@aucuneideejsp8891 No, it's in Aubagne : musee.legion-etrangere.com/

[@leonnqt1dxxclecavalier369]

Wow. That's pretty rare. The Crypt of the Legion where captain Danjou's hand is kept is officially forbidden to everyone that is not a Legionnaire. It is not open to everyone, authorization to enter the crypt is rare for outsiders.

[@katenunyabizness9221]

It is always remembered in our household on April 30th. Thank you for helping bring this to greater attention and quite a lovely presentation of the events. Thank you.

[@thelonerider5644]

The logical part of my mind says of the battle of Cameron: "pointless waste of life" My heart says, "Magnificent valor". Thank you for sharing this story about these brave soldiers.

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

It's all about how you decide to go out when given the choice, isn't it.

[@carolweideman1905]

Any war is a pointless waste of life.

[@rogerhwerner6997]

Sadly wars often are a waste of life but that doesn't detract from the conduct f the men who fight...and sometimes die.

[@Zorglub1966]

Actually from a "cold" military perspective it was not pointless at all, they did the job. These brave stalled the raid on the convoy

[@rogerkercheval3964]

Thank You HG; I sincerely enjoy Your KZbin channel. I have been a lover of History as long as I can remember. It really disturbs me when I hear how individuals are attempting to alter and/or erase Our Nation's History. Be Blessed and Continue the Great Work.

[@cobrakillingfrog646]

Heroism and honor (on both sides!) that we just don't have today. Thanks for keeping this alive History Guy!

[@dougearnest7590]

Five men - surrounded by over a thousand soldiers of the opposing side. Having made a vow not to surrender, down to the last of their ammo, they passed around a bottle of wine (or so the legend goes) - fixed bayonets - and charged the enemy. Someday I will visit the site of the battle, just to breathe the air, to feel the dirt of this hallowed ground, to stand where these men, true to their oaths, defied impossible odds and did it with style. As a newcomer to this channel, I have a lot of catching up to do. The Battle of Camaron has always been one of my favorite stories of military badassary - so imagine my delight at seeing you did this video! One little suggestion though. You do speak just a little too fast to give some brains a chance to process what's being said, and that point of overwhelmedness usually happens about when you get to the really good stuff. I realize you have to fit it all in to the time allotted, but perhaps you could slow down just a little at the really important parts?

[@zachh3541]

Not intending to be rude at all. You can slow the playback speed to x.75 by clicking the three vertical dots in the upper right corner and selecting playback speed. Might help with the speedy bits!

[@dougearnest7590]

No offense taken. Ironically I made the same suggestion to someone who was not a native English speaker regarding another THG video. But for me, it just makes him sound funny. Maybe if I could slow it down to .95 I'd be okay.

[@georgeb8701]

@@dougearnest7590 also perhaps, watch again? He does talk surprisingly fast sometimes. I've only recently noticed that. ✌🏻🇺🇸

[@Zorglub1966]

You should love the defense of Lille in 1940 or the battle of Bir Hakeim in 1942

[@pulaski1]

"Decimated" - a word the meaning of which deserves to be remembered. :)

[@almilani4300]

Decimated meaning one out of 10.

[@richardh8082]

@@almilani4300 Although it is accepted now as:- kill, destroy, or remove a large proportion of.

[@tomjustis7237]

If anyone is interested in the full history of the Foreign Legion, I highly recommend you find a copy of "The Damned Die Hard". A really great read that I'm sure even The History Guy would appreciate!

[@parodyclip36]

Let me say an other thing about Camerone. Most of the battle was later told by a survivor. Not among the one that surrendered or the one that were injured. After the battle, a wounded French legionnaire musician of the group was considered dead ( he had two bullets wounds and several spear injuries), stripped off his clothes and barely buried among the other corpses. He then crawled on several kilometres before a patrol found him This guy survived all if that and told a lot about the battle. So that's an other incredible story to add to the battle of Cameronnes

[@swampdonkey1567]

The legion is also very well trained today, while there requirements are like 35 minute 5 mile among many other (which is a very good standard of it self) they only take the top 20% of these guys then the top 1% of them go to extra special units in the legion. These guys are legitimately some of the best forces in NATO.

[@carlfromtheoc1788]

The Museum of the French Foreign Legion (which I have been to) is located in Aubagne (France), about 2km from the train station. The down is about a 35 minute drive from Aix-en-Provence and a 20 minute or so train ride from Marseille. And in the room dedicated to fallen Legionnaires, is the captain's wooden hand. One caveat - everything is in French, and the museum staff and Legionnaires do not speak a lot of English, and when open, the hours can be a bit odd. Second caveat - Google maps has the shortest route which unfortunately takes you to the main gate of the 3rd Regiment of the Legion. On the plus side, the Legion does have their own line of wines. I really enjoyed it. I too have a degree in History.

[@charlesf9050]

The foreign legion deserves it's own big budget movie. Also there's a lot of people here overthinking his use of the word decimate

[@charlescrowell4981]

In a unmarked grave, on some forgotten battlefield, in a godforsaken corner of the world. It wasn't just my duty, but my honer to give my life for the legion. No surrender, no capitulation without orders. So was born the spirit of the legion!

[@jeffbangkok]

My left hand:..Watched this at 4 AM as my dog woke me early..Will need to watch again so I can fully absorb all the new facts included in this bit..Looks like one of your best yet..Retired for 25 years I fill my time with old movies and TV shows online..Having just watched "You only live twice" where Bond whacks his contact on his false leg with the cane to identify him I was musing when I woke today how someone could easily identify me by my gnarled left hand I crushed 40 years ago cutting a tree..First thing I see on Facebook is this posted as I woke.Small world again..Just watched "Return from the River Kwai" yesterday on KZbin that you'd enjoy..

[@rotorheadv8]

I learned of this battle back in 1982 as a new 2nd Lt in the Marines.

[@MrHandy1]

This was a fascinating story. I didn't know anything about the Legion but the reputation. Now I know more. Thank you.

[@CivilEngineerWroxton]

I LOVE all of your videos. I have always adored history and have been so happy ever since I found your channel a couple of years ago. One thing I wanted to point out is the definition of the word "decimate". That word is used frequently and you used it twice in this video. But its definition is not what the vast majority of people believe it is, so this word is misused most times that I encounter it. The actual definition is a culling of one-tenth of an army's numbers. This culling is selective and is meant to psychologically affect the decimated army. The strongest and most high-ranking are culled so as to throw the decimated army into disarray and possibly even retreat. So decimation can be more effective than even outright routing of an army because of the significantly reduced loss of life within the army that is using decimation tactics during any potential routing as opposed to decimation. We notice the "deci" prefix of the word which, of course, denotes "ten" or one-tenth. I hear many people use this word incorrectly virtually every day and I do my best to politely point out the word's actual meaning. So please don't take my comment here as a grammar Nazi type of comment. I'm just doing what I always do when encountering this word. Thank you for all of your excellent video content. We viewers are more history-savvy for having viewed your videos. 😁👌

[@FredericGaillot]

Thanks for the video. You may want also to look in details the battles in which the Legion was part of in Indochina, when the region was conquered by France. In the capture of Sontay in 1883, 83 legionnaires died, leaving 900 ennemies dead and more than 2000 injured. The next year, the Legion captured the region of Bac Ninh, having 9 dead, but leaving 100 ennemies dead and more than 400 injured. During the siege of Tuyen Quang in 1885, 630 legionnaires faced 12,000 ennemies for 3 months. When the ennemies abandonned the fight, the Legion suffered 50 dead, 224 injured, but killed around 1,000 ennemies, injured more than 2,000. The same year, in Lang Son, 450 men from the Legion were injured or killed, but the toll was 10 times higher to the empire of China. Overall, in 3 years, the sacrifice of an elite troop secured the control of northern Viet Nam, called at that time Tonkin. At the same time the french eastern fleet raided Taiwan and mainland China, securing with the treaty of Tianjin the control of France over Indochina.

[@DrinkingStar]

Like the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, the Legionaries at the Battle of Camarón "They were not defeated, they were only killed". The quote was from a movie about the French Foreign Legionaries who fought in the battle at Dien Bien Phu in Vietman.

[@macnutz4206]

I knew about the wooden hand but did not know its story. Big thanks.

[@laserbeam002]

You sir may have the best channel on KZbin. Thank you for posting.

[@cephasmartin8593]

Another great video. I knew about the Foreign Legions beginnings, but had never heard this tale. The wooden hand is interesting.

[@davidharris6581]

Love this story. An interesting bit of trivia somewhat related: One of the most popular historical tourist sites among Mexicans is the birthplace of General Ignacio Zaragoza, who lead the Battle of Puebla. It was the 4th most popular a few years ago. What is interesting about that is it is located near Goliad, Texas. So, it is always interesting to me to visit there and see thousands of Mexican citizens who love history on vacation. Few people outside the immediate area realize what a draw it is and how much of a boost to the local economy. The home he was born in has been restructured and there is a huge monument. It is an interesting trip. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignacio_Zaragoza

[@TheHollowBodiesBand]

David Harris the main streets of many cities in Northern Mexico (i.e. Monterrey, Saltillo, Monclova, Apodaca, etc...) are called "General Ignacio Zaragoza", instead of Miguel Hidalgo or Benito Juárez, which are much more common in other places.

[@patr6838]

Speaking of Mexico, could you do an episode on the braceros? The Mexican farm hands that came to the U.S. during ww2 to help us work the fields while our men were fighting.

[@Finwaell]

Some time before these events (1837 I think) the French were sieging a fortress of one sheikh who was giving them trouble in the area (North Africa) and already repelled one of their attacks. This time they pounded his walls for two days with cannons until they created a breach and asked him to surrender. He replied "If the French are out of powder we can provide some. If they are out of rations we can share ours. But as long ascone of us lives, you will not take Constantine (name of the city fort)". The French charged in, but suffered heavy losses and were pulling back because the sheikh's men set up a huge mine, but inadvertently it caused an opening in the second, inner wall. Seeing that one officer charged in without orders with 100 legionares, they fought their way through the breach and deep into the city and won the day :)

[@MS46Z]

WOW! That is history that deserves to be remembered.

[@jacobswafford9719]

Just found you channel. You have great content that is always engaging and entertaining. Keep up the good work!

[@willadventure4adventures226]

Wow,a French Alamo. Pretty cool, really enjoy your channel.

[@almontepaolilli4909]

The Legion will always be remembered for their deeds and vigorous training.

[@mohammedcohen]

Thanx for telling this...I've always loved the story of the hand of Cpt Danjou!!!

[@johnsimmons9142]

This was great. Thank you.

[@jeffbell2668]

You continue to amaze and entertain with these glorious yet little known glimpses into our past. Great job thank you for sharing you passion.

[@zero_bs_tolerance8646]

What an incredible story! Who knew? Thank you.

[@dancollins4755]

Thank you for history and people that deserve respect.

[@johnlansing2902]

Once again thank you for a great slice of history

[@williamcornish3175]

Fabulous telling and worthy of honor and the respect of any country in the world. Viva La France.

[@richardking9621]

I did 5 years in the Foreign Legion. I am very familiar with this story.

[@kint87]

Frenchmen here. Thanks a lot for your services in our forces, you could be proud to be part of the legion. Thanks for protecting us

[@jacobhayes5245]

American here. How was the food?

[@richardking9621]

@@jacobhayes5245 It was not bad. Different but not bad.

[@jasonlacomb5382]

Where did you serve? I also served in the Legion.

[@weirdscience8341]

Did ypu end up with a wird accent after i met two guys and they were definitely ex or still in the leigon and had a weird sort of south african accent they said it was because they always spoke either to foreign people or in french thats were it came from lol

[@davidowens5841]

I loved this video very much. I learned a lot. I really didn't know much about the French Foreign Legion and was extremely gratified by what I had learned. I do enjoy your channel and love what you teach. TY. I hope you are doing well and are safe during this crisis.

[@geoffdearth7360]

Great job as usual.

[@joelpasjojo2787]

Thank you for honoring their name and their story

[@djosephj]

Thanks for your great videos. Very informative and absolutely entertaining!

[@williamhayes2479]

3:30 Apparently, Nicholas Cage was a time traveler.

[@mitchdroese84]

Lol good call

[@bobm549]

On our visit to France we stayed in Paris . We walked every where and rode trains , buses and tube. On one outing we passed a nondescript door and upon reading the sign realized one could join the Legion there. Had a pleasant conversation but couldn't get much from the recruiter unless you joined !! You have to have time and walking shoes to really see .

[@jacktattis143]

There was a soldier Adrian Carter de Wiart originally a Belgium fought in 5 wars Seriously wounded 8 times lost an eye and a hand and became a Lt General Now there was a man

[@Juiceboxdan72]

I first learned about the Foreign Legion from watching the Three Stooges. History at its best!

[@oaf-77]

Abbot and Costello

[@dontroutman8232]

Also, check out Marty Feldman, in, "The Last Remake of Beau Gest."

[@linlinlixin2637]

I first heard of it in Van dams lion heart.

[@almilani4300]

Flying Deuces with Laurel and Hardy was a spoof of the foreign LEGIONARIES

[@bobkarigan4512]

Just love this channel.

[@juliemcneely-kirwan9314]

Another great piece of teaching.

[@PreppingInProgress]

Sure wish Sabaton would do a song about this! Thank you for sharing this story with us.

[@hittman1222]

Thank you for creating this content.

[@williamdean4101]

Hi! I'm a history guy too. Got my first BA after cleaning toilets in the USN for 4 years to pay for it. Got my second BA in History after being both a taxicab driver in LA and a bus driver in Orange County CA for 7 years. Got my MA and teaching credential 10 years after that by doing minimum wage jobs. All of this education was paid for by NOT getting gov't loans . Now it's 2003 and I was unhirable because I was "over educated", "over qualified" and "over 60." Now I'm a security guard. Ain't educational wonderful?

[@scottsprings9404]

Great as usual thank you

[@itsapittie]

I've read that D'Anjou's prosthetic hand was articulated so he could hold his reins in it because he couldn't stay on as a field officer unless he could ride and fight at the same time. I can't attest whether it's true but it doesn't seem unlikely.

[@HAZZATHEBEAST]

Last stand stories are always the best.

[@shadowjack8]

Great history! Thank you.

[@johnarizona3820]

Thank you History Guy.

[@graycloud057]

They were there with us during Desert Storm. I wouldn’t want to cross that bunch.

[@clacoose007vibes]

In read about The Battle of Cameroon and Jean Bonjou's prosthetic wooden hand in a graphic novel, back in the early 70's and have been fascinated with French Foreign Legion since.

[@clacoose007vibes]

The story briefly touched on the invincibility of the Foreign Legion Square.

[@maple-leafs13]

Great vid as always

[@tomjustis7237]

Excellent presentation of the battle of Cameroon. For anyone interested in the full history of the Foreign Legion I suggest you find a copy of "The Damned Die Hard". Well worth reading!

[@shoeshinegirl101]

👍👍👍💕 thank you‼️ Constantly, learning new things, because of you, and I thank you for that.

[@douglasfrazier811]

You should do a video on Col Peter Ortiz USMCR...Legionnaire before WW2, later OSS, and eventually Hollywood fame memorialized in 13 Rue Madeleine...truth is often better than fiction.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

Just read through his Wikipedia biography. That's one hell of a Warrior, nearly puts Audie Murphy to shame.

[@dontroutman8232]

Interesting recommend, I'll add it to my study list.

[@sharkboyjuan]

You want BadAss. .. read on Daniel Daly USMC

[@diffmiss]

Great stuff.. Thanks.

[@ghrey8282]

I had never heard if this before. Thank you.

[@martynspeck]

That's a great story and a great telling of it. Thank you.

[@blockmasterscott]

I always loved reading about this battle.

[@rauldemoura2417]

WOW! I knew the F F L were “bad assed”, but I had no idea about Cameroon. I LOVE history. Thank you. Can you do a piece on the Munich Olympics in 1973? We were children then, (10) when the shooting stated. I don’t remember much, mostly running for our lives!!

[@rogerscottcathey]

lot of info packed in 10+ mins. Drink a lot of espresso that day did ya?

[@tinamclaughlin1991]

Wow! Like the Alamo, but the last few were respected. Tremendous men, valiant to the end. I respect their actions too. Thank you!

[@soldtobediers]

Thank's for this paralell occurance performed by the French Foreign Legion. Our States 3 Blood Baptized Texans... Crockett, Bowie, & Travis were enduring their battle in a similar time slot. Can't wait to pass this similarity on to Thomas Gast on his channel. Though i'm sure he'll just smile a whisper... knowing all about Jean Danjous's wooden hand. Got a Lot of Respect for the French Foreign Legion. -former recondo sgt. ''rock'' 82nd abn. 11b4p 1/504 inf. '71-'74 8218

[@Nastyswimmer]

The difference being of course that the US managed to keep hold of the bit of Mexico that they invaded

[@lambastepirate]

You do know Bowie had been run out of a couple states for land fraud and was doing the same here.Travis got in debt and abandoned his wife and young son and came here to get away from his creditors.

[@lambastepirate]

@victor soto I think you are nuts you all want to be Americans LOL you are just butt hurt because the U.S. took away nearly half of Mexican lands

[@lambastepirate]

@victor soto So big deal i am of European and American Indian descent i have grown up in Texas and have quite a few friends of Mexican descent i know how they feel about illegal imigration. Thair are very few blacks in the U.S. they are on average 1/3 or more white.So we will all be a light brown when we are through mixing i don't care lol I also have a half American half Japanese friend.he has never met his Japanese grandparents they disowned thiar own daughter for marrying an American service man. This happend in the late 60s i wonder are the Japanese still so prejudiced?Also my great grandmothers people the Siminole are still technically still at war with the U.S. they never surrendered or signed a peace treaty! It also means i may have some black in me as well as Indian some runaway slaves joined the Siminole.

[@bobm549]

On our trip to Paris years ago , there was a induction center for the Legion . Very bleak , unimposing door with not a lot of advertisement. Just one of those things you find when on a unscripted vacation and never enough time. Later saw a serimony at the Arc De triumph , the Legionnaires looked bigger than the other militias on parade. Please forgive my spelling, even my spell check is bad. The people where gracious every were , and they loved the " Freedom Fries " that where so popular at that time , we got a lot of laffs !

[@papasteve215]

I drank a few bottles of wine with two Italian legionnaires at the Baghdad Hotel one evening in 2004. They were escorting a fallen comrade back home who had been killed while guarding a convoy up near Mosul. They were gentlemen and fine warriors.

[@thomashounsome7737]

Excellent video thank you, quick informative and entertaining!

[@docward7061]

Outstanding Sir in my opinion one of your better videos. Thank you for the education. Until later Sir.

[@ilfarmboy]

A good book on the legion is" the damned die hard"

[@richardross3815]

Thanks....I totally forgot about this story....

[@thewhitedeath586]

Amazing!

[@PreacherDan]

A much more noble time.

[@barrandilltanathlas1177]

I always remember this from a book 'Famous Last Stands', and I have Camerone Day as a reminder on my calendar.

[@lapsypal]

I wrote a story about the Legion and Captain Danjou about 25 years back. It was all about their "never surrender" battle of Camerone. My research explored the fierce fight and refusal to surrender was due to the gold they thought they were carrying. They didn't know they were a diversion or were they?

[@mariakelly5]

I saw a really interesting documentary about the French Foreign Legion a few months ago on KZbin.

[@tenhirankei]

For this one it should be a wooden thumb's up!

[@ValerieprimcessAmanda]

Yea.....the French Foreign Legion is a very serious force to be reckoned with.

[@haroldburrows4770]

When u read of the discipline rent upon the poor souls of the Legion who deserted or failed their duty it will make your skin crawl

[@bongobrandy6297]

The Legion's Motto, "March Or Die!"

[@Name-ps9fx]

Wow, excellent video! I am now better informed not only of the Légion, but also of Cinco de Mayo which had been a mystery to most Americans. It is still a mystery why we in the US celebrate a relatively minor event in Mexican history (the few Mexicans I’ve talked to have no idea what it is), but still...

[@PeterOkeefe54]

well that mexican general must have has extrordinarily disciplined troops to allow a surrender under those curcumstances...in the heat of battle such things are seldomly allowed..In Vietnam we asked no quarter and seldom gave any but that was with the yards in the highlands.

[@Finwaell]

wars were more.. gentlemanly in the 19th century.. only WW1 started to change that.

[@maxmg2227]

Angel Lucido Cambas the colonel who led the Mexican troops in combat and asked the Légionnaires to surrender was fluent in French. I guess he was very respected in his country since he had a fullfilled political career after his retirement from the army.

[@bigearl3867]

When I was much younger, I wanted to try the Legion, but didn't know how to get there from Texas.

[@hopatease1]

Go to the bay and get on a ship works every time .

[@jacobhayes5245]

God bless the incompetence of youth

[@philliplamoureux9489]

:)

[@Pfsif]

Turn left at Albuquerque Doc.

[@sherifitzgerald6886]

The Texas Rangers would have taken you in a heartbeat...