Prior WW II

Saint-Cyrien from Général Joseph Joffre promotion, Pierre was affected to the 35th Infantry Regiment at Belfort as platoon commander (lieutenant) then transmission officer. In May 1936, he volunteered for service in the 1st Foreign Regiment 1^er RE at Sidi-bel-Abbès; the Legion. Pierre got introduced to the battle campaigns of Algeria and Morocco with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2^ème REI in 1938 and the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6^ème REI in 1939.

World War II

With the outbreak of World War II, Lieutenant Segrétain belonged to the Foreign Legion group of the French Levant and volunteered to fight in metropole France. It is with the 20th Colonial Infantry Regiment (French: 20^e Régiment d’Infanterie Coloniale) at Saint-Gervais, where he received his baptism of fire. Pierre's bravery and efficiency proved exemplary in showcasing morale support for the ensemble of the troops and would bring forth his first citation. A difficult period commenced for Captain Segrétain, since in December 1940, he sailed to Beirut to join the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6^ème REI with whom which he fought against the British and Free French Forces in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.

Little after the allied Disembarking in North Africa in 1942, Pierre's regiment sided this time with the Allies and engaged in the Tunisia Campaign against the Afrika Korps of Rommel. At Loukanda, he led his combat company facing a superiorly numbered and better-equipped enemy. In July 1943, Pierre participated to the creation and reforming of the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) with whom, he disembarked at Provence, delivered the Franche-Comté and progressed till Danube. Pierre would be made knight of the order of the Legion of Honor.

Indochina War

1^er Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 1^er BEP (1948-1955)

In 1945, Pierre rejoined Coëtquidan (French: Coëtquidan), where, as unit Commandant, he was in charge for training transmission units. The Segrétain family lived 2 years of peace. After earning his French paratrooper brevet at Pau, captain Segrétain was assigned to the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1^er RCP.

A Legion officer formed at the evolutions of the infantry, Pierre was the first commander 1^er Chef of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1^er BEP, created on 1 July 1948 at Khamisis, creating also the battalion insignia.^[1] On November 1948, the battalion departed to Indochina. With Captain Pierre Jeanpierre seconding command of the 1^er BEP, Segrétain led numerous operations in the Tonkin.

During September 1950, Segrétain alerted command of the three strong positions of artillery while his men picked up their traces at the frontier. The 1^er BEP received for mission to retake the town of Dong Khe on colonial route 4 (RC4) while assuring liaison with That Khe situated at 20 km south. While facing a superior enemy in numbers, the 1^er BEP would have to make movement towards the cuvette of Coc Xa; surrounded by rocks and vegetation, the 1^er BEP (I formation) delivered the first traditional Foreign Legion battlefield of the First Indochina War throughout which the entire battalion was annihilated.^[1] Battalion commander Chef de bataillon Segrétain commanded his unit till his last effort. Pierre died of his mortal wounds during the night of 7–8 October 1950, while the remaining survivors of the battalion were filtering across enemy lines to win back That Khe.

Posthumous homages

Pierre Segrétain - Gallery