French Para Lieutenant Valery Tholy

French paratrooper Lieutenant Valery Tholy, aged 36, was killed in action on 7th September 2011 during a battle with enemy forces in the village of Mobayan, Kapisa province. In an intense exchange of fire, which involved rocket-propelled grenades and artillery, several French Paras and a French journalist were wounded.

Lt. Tholy, married with three children, served with the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment based in Montauban. He joined the French Army in 1997 and completed officer training in 2007. He joined the 17th RGP in 2008.

During his 13 years of service, Lt. Tholy served in Yugoslavia, Cote d'Ivoire, Central African Republic and Djibouti. He deployed to Afghanistan in August this year.

Described as a seasoned, experienced soldier, he commanded his unit to the highest standards.

French Foreign Legion Corporal Kisan Bahadur Thapa

French Foreign Legion Corporal Kisan Bahadur Thapa was one of two French Legionnaires killed in action on 7th August 2011 in a battle with enemy forces near the Tagab Valley, Kapisa. He served with 2nd Parachute Regiment Etranger (REP), based at Calvi, Corsica.

Cpl. Thapa joined the Foreign Legion in March 2008 and was assigned to the 2nd REP after his initial training with the 4th Foreign Regiment of Castelnaudary. He was promoted to Legionnaire 1st Class in November 2008, and promoted to Corporal in May this year. He previously served in New Caledonia and Afghanistan.

Described by his superiors as "thorough, calm, a good comrade, and remaining calm and cool in the face of adversity," Cpl. Thapa was destined for further promotion. He held the Bronze Medal of National Defence with staples "Foreign Legion" and "Mission of external assistance," the French commemorative medal with clasp "Afghanistan" and the NATO Medal.

Aged 30, Cpl. Thapa was married with a baby boy.

French Legionnaire 1st Class Gerhardus Jansen

French Foreign Legionnaire 1st Class Gerhardus Jansen was one of two French Legionnaires killed in action on 7th August 2011 in a battle with enemy forces near the Tagab Valley, Kapisa. He served with 2nd Parachute Regiment Etranger (REP), based at Calvi, Corsica. He joined the 2nd REP in August 2008.

In January 2009, he was promoted to Legionnaire 1st Class. After a mission in Djibouti, Jansen deployed to Afghanistan.

The 24-year-old was awarded the Bronze Medal of National Defence clip "Foreign Legion" and "Mission of external assistance," the French Commemorative Medal clasp "Afghanistan" and the NATO Medal.

Two French Foreign Legionaires killed in action

Two French Paras were killed in action on 7th August 2011 in a contact with enemy forces near the village of Nawrrozkhel, in Kapisa province.

The unit involved - the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (Foreign Legion) - were patrolling in the area searching for arms and explosives when insurgents opened fire on them. During the battle, two Legionaires were killed and five injured. They were evacuated by helicopter to the French military hospital in Kabul.

Update: the two soldiers are - Legionnaire 1st Class Gerhardus Jansen and Corporal Kisan Bahadur Thapa

French Paratroop Warrant Officer Jean-Marc Gueniat

French Paratroop Warrant Officer Jean-Marc Gueniat, age 37, 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.

WO Gueniat served with the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment. He joined the Regiment in April 1994 and during his military career served in the Central African Republic, former Yugoslavia, New Caledonia and Ivory Coast. 

He deployed to Afghanistan in May this year with the Lafayette Task Force, Battle Group Raptor.

WO Gueniat leaves his wife and two children.

French Paratroop Warrant Officer Emmanuel Techer

French Army Warrant Officer Emmanuel Techer, age 38, 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.

WO Techer, served with the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment. In January 1993 he was admitted to the School of NCOs. Appointed sergeant in 1994, he joined the 17th Engineer Regiment Paratrooper (RGP) of Monta

Until 2007, WO Techer was a technical trainer at the Commando Training Centre in Givet. He later rejoined 17th RGP where he commanded the 2nd Company. During his career, he had deployed on combat missions to Chad (1994 and 2008), Yugoslavia (1995 and 1996), Senegal (1998), Kosovo (1998), New Caledonia (2004). He deployed to Afghanistan in May this year.

WO Techer was awarded the Medal with Overseas clasp Chad, the gold medal of National Defence, with staples Airborne troops, foreign aid and Mission Engineering, the medal of recognition of the nation, the French Commemorative Medal Button former Yugoslavia. He leaves behind his wife.

French Paratroop Warrant Officer Laurent Marsol

French Army Warrant Officer Laurent Marsol, age 35, 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.

WO Marsol, served with the 1st Parachute Regiment (Chasseurs). In June 1998 he joined the 14th Command Regiment and two years later was admitted to the National School of NCOs. During his military career, WO Marsol had been deployed on active duty to Gabon, Kosovo and Chad. This was his second combat tour of Afghanistan deploying on 14th May.

WO Marsol was awarded the Medal with clasps Overseas Côte d'Ivoire, Central African Republic and Chad, the French Commemorative Medal Button former Yugoslavia, the Gold Medal of National Defence, Button "Airborne" Cross with bronze star.

French Paratroop officer, Lt. Thomas Gauvin

French Army officer, Lieutenant Thomas Gauvin, age 27, 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.

Lt. Gauvin, from Caen, served with the 1st Parachute Regiment (Chasseurs). In September 2005, he began studying at the French Military Academy - Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr - where he was top of his class. In August 2008, he joined the Parachute Regiment.

In 2010, he deployed to Central African Republic and deployed to Afghanistan on 6th May 2011. Lt. Gauvin holds the Bronze Medal of National Defense (Airborne Troops) button. He leaves his wife.

French Para, Cyrille Hugodot

Para 1st Class Cyrille Hugodot, serving with the French 1st Parachute Regiment, was killed in action on Saturday 25th June 2011 during a battle with enemy forces in Tagab, Kapisa province.

His unit was protecting engineers deployed to find and destroy bombs and other explosive devices in the area, when they were attacked.

Paratrooper Hugodot, age 24, joined the RCP (Paras) in March 2009. He had previously deployed to Gabon and arrived in Afghanistan on 15th May this year. He leaves a wife and young daughter.

French Paratrooper Florian Morillon

French Paratrooper Florian Morillon was killed in action on Saturday 18th June 2011 while on foot patrol in the Tagab valley, Kapisa province. His unit was attacked by enemy forces and 1re-classe Morillon was critically injured in an exchange of fire.

He was evacuated by helicopter to the French Military hospital in Kabul, where he later died from his wounds.

Prior to serving in Afghanistan, he served in Gabon and the Central African Republic. He deployed to Afghanistan mid-May 2011.

1re-classe Morillon served with the 1st Parachute Regiment.

French Paratrooper killed in action - 18 June 2011

A French Paratrooper was killed in action 18th June 2011 in Kapisa province, Afghanistan. The soldier was part of a foot patrol south of Tagab when the unit was attacked by insurgent forces.

A soldier was wounded in the attack and evacuated to a military hospital in Kabul. Sadly, he died from his injuries.

Update: soldier named as Florian Morillon

22yo French Para, Anthony Riviere, among 10 dead

A 22 year old is amoung the ten French soldiers killed in an ambush near Kabul on 18 August 2008. Anthony Riviere died from small arms fire 50 kilomteres from the Afghan capital.

“His mother, his sister and I were worried since Anthony had announced his departure for Afghanistan," remembers his father, Alexis. “But we did not express our concern when we talked about it for the last time on the phone." He added.

Anthony had arrived in Afghanistan the month before with the newest rotation of French soldiers. The deployment was due to last four months. he was an accomplished sportsman, dabbling in Taekwondo, football, mountain biking and motocross.

French Para, Alexis Taani killed in Taliban firefight

Alexis Taani, 20, was killed during a Taliban ambush in the Uzbin Valley on 18th August 2008. Nine other French soldiers lost their lives with a further 21 wounded when around 100 Taliban fighters ambushed a French patrol 50 kilometers from the Afghan capital, Kabul. 

Alexis Taani

The quick reaction force came to the rescue with the support of close air. The fight lasted through the night and into the following day. Eight of the fallen soldiers were from the 8e Régiment Parachutiste d Infanterie de Marine (8th Marine Parachute Infantry).

Alexis, from Hautes-Alpes, enlisted into the French Military and was posted to his current unit last December, where he had been employed as a radio operator.

French Para, Damien Gaille, killed in action

Private 1st Class, Damien Gaillet was killed Monday evening during a Taliban ambush 50 kilometers east of Kabul.

Private 1st Class, Damien Gaille

The young soldier joined the 8th Parachute Regiment Marine Infantry, based in Castres, on June 5, 2007. The unit was his first choice. “He had it in his blood. He talked about joining the army since he was a young boy," said his father, Daniel.

This was Damien’s first mission overseas.