French Foreign Legion Sergeant Damien Zingarelli

French Foreign Legion Sergeant Damien Zingarelli, age 27, was one of two Legionnaires killed by an Afghan soldier on 29th December 2011 in Kapisa.

The two non-commissioned officers, serving with the 2nd Foreign Engineering Regiment (2e REG), belonged to a French Mountain Commando Group. The attack took place during a joint French-Afghan operation in the Alassa Bedraou valley. A rogue Afghan National Army soldier shot and killed the two French Legionnaires.

Sergeant Zingarelli joined the Foreign Legion in 2005. After his initial training with the 4th RE he joined the 1st REC. Highly motivated, Sergeant Zingarelli applied to join the selection Mountain Commando Group (GCM) and joined them in January 2008. In 2010, he served in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

His identity and personal details were made public by his regiment on 30th December 2011.

The other Legionnaire killed was: Chief Warrant Officer Mohammed El Gharrafi

French Foreign Legion CWO Mohammed El Gharrafi

French Foreign Legion Chief Warrant Officer Mohammed El Gharrafi, age 39, was one of two Legionnaires killed by an Afghan soldier on 29th December 2011 in Kapisa.

The two non-commissioned officers, serving with the 2nd Foreign Engineering Regiment (2e REG), belonged to a French Mountain Commando Group. The attack took place during a joint French-Afghan operation in the Alassa Bedraou valley. A rogue Afghan National Army soldier shot and killed the two French Legionnaires.

CWO El Gharrafi joined the Foreign Legion in December 1992. After his initial training in the 4th Foreign Regiment, he joined the 1st Foreign Engineering Regiment. In 1996 he began a two-year deployment with the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment in French Guiana. In 1999, he volunteered to serve in the 2nd Foreign Engineering Regiment and was involved in the formation of a Mountain Commando Group. He was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer on 1 December 2011.

CWO El Gharrafi had deployed on several overseas operations: Bosnia, Tajikistan, Guyana, Lebanon, Djibouti. He deployed to Afghanistan in September.

He leaves a wife and four children.

The other Legionnaire killed was: Sergeant Damien Zingarelli

Two French Foreign Legionnaires killed in action in Kapisa

Two non-commissioned officers of the French Foreign Legion were killed on 29th December 2011 during a joint French-Afghan operation in Kapisa. The two NCOs were shot and killed by a rogue Afghan Army soldier.

The Legionnaires have been named as CWO Mohammed El Gharrafi with 19 years of military service experience, and Sergeant Damien Zingarelli. Both served with 2e REG (Foreign Engineering Regiment).

French Foreign Legionnaire Goran Franjkovic

Serbian Legionnaire 1st Class Goran Franjkovic, age 25, was killed in action on 14th November 2011 during combat operations near Tagab, Afghanistan. He was serving with the 2nd Foreign Regiment of Engineers (2e REG), French Foreign Legion.

His unit was involved in checking and clearing land mines and homemade bombs on a road. During the operation, they were attacked by enemy forces and Legionnaire Franjkovic was fatally wounded.

Legionnaire Franjkovic, originally from Serbia, was a combat engineer and bomb-disposal technician in the regiment. He joined the French Foreign Legion in March 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan in September this year. It was his first overseas combat deployment.

French Foreign Legionaire, Sergeant Benoit Dupin

French Sergeant Benoit Dupin, age 34, was killed on December 17, 2010, during a clash in Afghanistan. 

Sgt. Benoit Dupin

He was an officer in 2nd Foreign Regiment of Engineers (REG). Starting in 1997, he attended the National School of sub-active officers (ENSO) in Saint-Maixent. Appointed sergeant, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment (RIMA) after passing the School of Infantry and took part in several overseas operations as group leader. In 2002, he was admitted to the Combined Military Academy (EMIA). He was promoted to captain on 1 August 2008 and took command of the 3rd company of mechanized combat in June 2010, before leaving for Afghanistan last month.

Captain Benoit Dupin was posted to many overseas operations during his career (Bosnia, Kosovo, Djibouti, Chad). 

He was married with a young child.

French Legionnaire killed in RPG attack

French Foreign Legionnaire, Sergeant Konrad Rygiel member of the GCP unit of the 2nd REP was killed Monday, June 7, 2010 afternoon by shrapnel from a rocket fired by an RPG-7 in the province of Kapisa in Afghanistan.

French Foreign Legionnaire killed in action

A legionnaire from the 2nd REP was killed on 8th of April 2010 in Afghanistan. His unit was engaged in support of the Afghan National Army, as part of building a post (COP) in the region Tagab in Kapissa when they were attacked by insurgents. The wounded legionnaire was evacuated to Kabul military hospital, but it did not survive his injuries.

Legionnaire, Robert Hutnik

The death brings to 41 the number of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan, including 21 in clashes.
The 1st Class Legionnaire is Robert Hutnik, 23, single, originally from Slovakia. He enlisted in the Foreign Legion in May 2007 and after the basic training he joined the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment. Afghanistan, where he served as a driver of VAB, was his second mission, after a stay in Gabon. He was assigned to 3rd Company, specializing in amphibious combat.

French Legionnaire among 10 soldiers killed

Rodolphe Penon, a combat medic has been praised for his heroism and dedication during the Taliban ambush that killed 10 French soldiers. He continued to provide aid and comfort to wounded soldiers after sustaining injuries to himself. He had been out into the battle several times to rescue others when he finally fell. 

Penon had arrived in Afghanistan the month before with the newest rotation of French soldiers. He leaves behind two daughters, 16 and 14. The 40 year old had been assigned to the 2nd Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2nd Parachute Regiment, French Foreign Legion)