French Para Veteran of Afghanistan Killed in Action in Mali

26-year-old French Paratroop Corporal Cédric Charenton was killed in action during operations in Mali on 2nd March 2013. Cpl. Charenton had previously served in Afghanistan. He is the third French soldier to die in Mali during the current operation.

The incident happened as French and Chadian troops assaulted enemy positions in the Ametettai Valley - about 50 miles from Tessalit. During the assault, 12 insurgents were killed, several vehicles destroyed and three large caches of weapons and explosives were discovered and seized by French Forces.

Cpl. Charenton, who served with the elite Airborne Infantry 1st Regiment, was hit by small-arms fire. He had previously served in New Caledonia and Gabon, as well as Afghanistan.

French combat troops leave Afghanistan

The last unit of French combat troops left Afghanistan today (Saturday 15th December 2012). Approximately 200 troops from the 25th Infantry Regiment, departed early afternoon. They had been responsible for overseeing the French withdrawal.

88 French military personnel have died during combat missions in the country since 2004. Click here for the list of French fallen.

Their departure means France has around 1,500 non-combat troops left in Afghanistan, most of them based in Kabul. They are due to stay into 2013 to take responsibility for repatriating equipment and training the Afghan army to take over.

After that, only a couple of hundred French soldiers involved in cooperation or training missions will remain in Afghanistan.

Click here for the full story at France24

French Army CWO Franck Bouzet

45-year-old French Army Chief Warrant Officer Franck Bouzet, from Albertville, died on 7th August 2012 after being shot during a contact with insurgents in the Kapisa Valley. He was part of a joint French-Afghan security operation when they engaged enemy forces near a bridge at Tagab. CWO Bouzet, and another French soldier, were shot. Both were evacuated to Kabul where CWO Bouzet died from his wounds.

CWO Bouzet served with the 13th Mountain Infantry Battalion and had over 27 years of service with the French Army.

CWO Bouzet had deployed on numerous field operations and short-term missions that highlighted his dedication, enthusiasm and remarkable human qualities: Guyana in 1985, the former Yugoslavia in 1994 and 1998, Kosovo in 2000 and 2002, the Côte d'Ivoire in 2005 and 2007, the Central African Republic in 2009 and Afghanistan in 2011. He deployed on this current tour of Afghanistan in May 2012.

He leaves his wife and three children.

French Army Sergeant Yoann Marcillan

24-year-old French Army Sergeant Yoann Marcillan, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

He was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

Sergeant Marcillan joined the French Army in October 2007. In 2009 he was based in New Caledonia and in September that year, deployed to Kosovo as part of a Liaison and Intelligence unit.

Newly promoted in October 2010, he was assigned to the Logistics group as a fire-control officer. He further volunteered for 2 Intelligence Brigade. He deployed to Afghanistan in April 2012.

French Army Sergeant Pierre-Olivier Lumineau

26-year-old French Army Sergeant-chef Pierre-Olivier Lumineau, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

He was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

He attended the French Military's National School of NCOs from May 2010. He was appointed Sergeant in September that year. In December, he was posted to 2 Intelligence Brigade based at Suippes.

He deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year as part of a Tactical Operations Team (ETOMI) based in Kapisa.

French Army Sergeant-chef Stéphane Prudhom

32-year-old French Army Sergeant-chef (Chief Warrant) Stéphane Prudhom, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

Chief Warrant Prudhom was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

He joined the French Army in November 1999 and served with the 2nd Hussars as a scout for four years. In June 2003, he was promoted to Sergeant. In 2009, he joined the 40th Artillery Regiment

During his service, he deployed on six overseas operations: The former Yugoslavia in 2000, Kosovo in 2002 and 2006, Côte d'Ivoire in 2005, Afghanistan in 2006 and Chad in 2008. He deployed on the current mission to Afghanistan in March 2012.

He held the Gold Medal of National Defence, the Medal with Overseas clip "Republic of Côte d'Ivoire" and the French Commemorative Medal with clasps "Former Yugoslavia" and "Afghanistan."

He was the father of two children aged 3 and 1 years old.

French Army Captain Christophe Schnetterle

French Army Captain Christophe Schnetterle, from the 93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment, died in France on 27th March 2012 from injuries he received in January while serving in Afghanistan. 

Captain Schnetterle was seriously wounded in Kapisa during an attack by an Afghan Army soldier on a group of French soldiers 20th January 2012. He had been airlifted to France and died at the Val de Grace hospital in Paris. In the attack, four of his comrades were killed and 14 other soldiers were injured in the attack. 

45 years old, Captain Schnetterle was married with two young girls of 16 and 21 years. He joined the Army in 1986 and was promoted to Captain in 2006. This was his second mission in Afghanistan, deploying in December 2011. He had also previously served in Djibouti, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Martinique and Lebanon.

French Army CWO Fabien Willm

43-year-old French Army Chief Warrant Officer Fabien Willm was one of four French soldiers killed on 20th January 2012 by an Afghan National Army soldier. He and his colleagues were killed while they were participating in a physical training workout at Gwan Base in southern Kapisa. 15 other French soldiers were injured in the attack.

CWO Willm joined the French Army in 1986 as a student NCO, he was assigned the following year at 93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment (93e RAM) where he began his career as a gunner.

Since August 2009, he served as Senior Technician in the same regiment. He was married with one child.

More information to follow.

French Army CWO Denis Estin

45-year-old French Army Chief Warrant Officer Denis Estin was one of four French soldiers killed on 20th January 2012 by an Afghan National Army soldier. He and his colleagues were killed while they were participating in a physical training workout at Gwan Base in southern Kapisa. 15 other French soldiers were injured in the attack.

CWO Estin had served with the French Army for over 28 years. Born in December 1966, he joined the Parachute Artillery Regiment in November 1984. He quickly distinguished himself as a natural leader with highly professional qualities. he was promoted to Sergeant in May 1987. He attended the national school for non-commissioned officers and was appointed Sergeant 1st Class in July 1988.

In 1993 he was posted to 68 Artiller Regiment of Africa as a Warrant Officer.

August 2009 he joined the elite 93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment as a communications specialist. During his long career he served in Central African Republic in 1986 and 1994, Chad in 1996, Martinique in 1999, Bosnia in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2004 and 2009. He deployed on this mission to Afghanistan in September 2011.

He was married with two children.

French Army Sergeant Geoffrey Baumel

27-year-old French Army Sergeant Geoffrey Baumel was one of four French soldiers killed on 20th January 2012 by an Afghan National Army soldier in Kapisa. 15 other French soldiers were injured in the attack.

Sgt. Baumel joined the Army in September 2006 and served with the 93rd Regiment of Mountain Artillery (93e RAM) as a mechanic. He was born in Echirolles in November 1984. During his service, he deployed to Guyana in 2008 and was promoted to Brigadier (Sergeant) on 1st October 2010.

He deployed to Afghanistan in September 2011 as part of a Mentoring and Advisory team involved in training the Afghan Army. He and his colleagues were killed while they were participating in a physical training workout at Gwan Base in southern Kapisa.

He leaves his partner and one child.

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.

Lieutenant Camille Levrel

French Army Lieutenant Camille Levrel, from the 152nd Infantry Regiment (152 RI) was killed in action on 14th August 2011 after being shot by enemy forces during a mission in Kapisa.

The 36-year-old officer was married with three children. He had served the French Army for 14 years. During that time, he served in Germany, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Chad and Kosovo. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan. He deployed to Afghanistan on 31st May this year as part of Operation "Pamir".

Lt. Levrel was awarded the Gold Medal of National Defense (Infantry), among other medals during his career.

Lt. Levrel was described as being highly motivated with a serious and professional attitude.

French Army officer killed in action - 14 August 2011

A French Army lieutenant was killed in action early morning today, 14th August 2011 after being shot by enemy forces during a mission in Kapisa, northeast of Kabul.

The officer served with the 152nd Infantry Regiment (152 RI) of Colmar. He deployed to Afghanistan in early June this year.

Lieutenant Camille Levrel

__________________

Le 14 août 2011, en début de matinée, un militaire français a été tué au cours d’une mission d’appui à l’armée nationale afghane dans le sud de la Kapisa, au nord-est de Kaboul.

Vers 8h30 locale, un militaire français a été touché et tué par un tir isolé d’un insurgé. Une couverture aérienne de la coalition a été mise en œuvre en appui des troupes au sol.

Le militaire décédé était un officier, lieutenant du 152e régiment d’infanterie (152e RI) de Colmar. Il était déployé en Afghanistan au sein du battle group Quinze Deux depuis début juin.

French Army Master Corporal Facrou Husseini Ali

French Army Master Corporal Facrou Husseini Ali, of the 19th Engineer Regiment (19th RG) was killed in action when a roadside bomb exploded against his patrol vehicle near Tagab on 11th August 2011.

The 32-year-old combat engineer deployed to Afghanistan in June 2011. He was the father of two children aged 1 and 7 years.

With over 10 years of service, Master Corporal Husseini Ali served successively with the 19th RG in Guyana (2002), Côte d'Ivoire (2004 and 2010), Kosovo (2006 and 2008) and Polynesia (2007).

He had been decorated several times with medals and awards during his career.

French soldier killed in explosion near Tagab

On the evening of August 11, 2011, an improvised explosive device exploded on a convoy, seven kilometers south of Tagab. A French soldier who was on board one of the armored vehicles at the front of the convoy was killed. Four other soldiers were wounded.

The injured were immediately taken care of by a medical team on site and evacuated by helicopter to the French military hospital in Kabul.

The fallen soldier and wounded four belong to the 19th Engineer Regiment located in Besançon.

Master Corporal Facrou Husseini Ali

__________________

Dans la soirée du 11 août 2011, un engin explosif improvisé a explosé sur le passage d’un convoi, à sept kilomètres au sud de Tagab. Un soldat qui se trouvait à bord de l’un des véhicules de l’avant blindé (VAB) de ce convoi a été tué.

Ses quatre autres camarades ont été blessés.

Les blessés ont été immédiatement pris en charge par une équipe médicale sur place et évacués par hélicoptère vers l’hôpital militaire français de Kaia à Kaboul. Un hélicoptère français (Tigre) et un chasseur américain (F15) ont été mis en œuvre pour couvrir le désengagement des blessés.

Le militaire décédé et les quatre blessés appartiennent au 19e régiment du Génie situé à Besançon.

Master Corporal Facrou Husseini Ali

French Army Master Corporal Sebastien Vermeille

French Master Corporal Sébastien Vermeille, age 31, was one of five French soldiers killed on 13th July 2011 while attending a meeting with village elders in the village of Joybar, Kapisa province. They were all killed when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb.

M-Cpl. Vermeille was a broadcasting operator with the SIRPA Army of Lyon which he joined in 2009. Prior to that he served with the 1st Regiment of Marines in Angoulême. He had previously served in Ivory Coast, Djibouti, New Caledonia, Chad and Kosovo. He deployed to Afghanistan in May this year with Lafayette Task Force, Battle Group Raptor.

M-Cpl. Vermeille leaves behind his wife and two children.

5 French soldiers killed by bomb blast

Five French soldiers have been killed in a bombing in Kapisa province, eastern Afghanistan today 13th July 2011. Four other French soldiers were seriously injured in the attack.

The French troops were guarding a meeting of local leaders in Joybar village when a terrorist suicide bomber detonated a bomb.

The five soldiers served with the French Airborne. Three were named as:

Lieutenant Thomas Gauvin
Warrant Officer Lawrence Marsol
Warrant Officer Emmanuel Techer
Warrant Officer Jean-Marc Gueniat
Master Corporal Sebastien Vermeille

French Army Brigadier Clément Kovac

22-year-old French Army Brigadier Clement Kovac was killed on 11th July 2011 when a colleague accidentally shot him. The incident happened at Operating Base Hutnik in Kapisa province, Afghanistan. He served with the 1st Regiment of Chasseurs.

Brig. Kovac had previously served in New Caledonia and deployed to Afghanistan on 2nd June 2011 as a crew member in a AMX-10 light tank.

His commanding officer said of Brig. Kovak that he was "noted for his sense of responsibility" and that he had "a very good state of mind in all missions he participated in.

The young soldier had been awarded the National Defense Medal (bronze level).

French Army Lieutenant Matthieu Gaudin

French Army helicopter pilot Lieutenant Matthieu Gaudin, age 37, was killed on 10th June 2011 when his Gazelle helicopter crashed in bad weather about 20km from Bagram, Afghanistan.

Lt. Gaudin, serving with a Regiment of Combat Helicopters (RHC) had previously served in Croatia (2002), Kosovo (2008), Cote d'Ivoire (2005 and 2010). He deployed to Afghanistan in June 2011.

His awards include the Gold Medal of National Defence, the Vermeil Medal with overseas clasp, the Yugoslavia Medal with clasp and the NATO medal.

Lt. Gaudin joined the military in 1997 and qualified as a helicopter pilot in 1998. He was described as a willfull and passionate officer.

He leaves a wife and four children.

French Army M-Corporal Lionel Chevalier

French Army Caporal-chef (Master Corporal) Lionel Chevalier, age 24, died in Tagab, Afghanistan on 10th June 2011.

M-Cpl Chevalier, serving with the 35th Infantry Regiment, suffered a fatal gunshot wound while holding his weapon when he was returning from a patrol mission.

M-Cpl. Chevalier, from Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, joined the French Army in 2005. He had previously served in Central Africa, Lebanon and Guyana. He deployed to Afghanistan in May 2011.

His comrades described him as an excellent athlete, cheerful and highly motivated.