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Marcel Letestu ( April 8, 1918 - August 29, 2006 ) was a French Général of the French Army who served an entire career in the French Foreign Legion.
Military career
Marcel enlisted in the French Army in 1936 and became a Sergent in 1938. A Sous-Officiers in the franc corps of the 160th Infantry Regiment (French: 160e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse) in 1939 to 1940 at the front, he was made captive during the Phoney War. He managed to escape a stalag and joined the free zone.
He entered to the École militaire interarmes of Cherchell. He graduated as a major of his promotion.
At the end of war, he was named as an instructor at the perfection officer school (French: école de perfectionnement des officiers) of Achern. In 1950, he was the champion of France for precision shooting and recordman for rapid shooting.
Promoted captain in 1951, he joined the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment where he was cited and wounded in 1952.
He then served in Algeria where he commanded a battalion of the 1st Foreign Regiment. He was then assigned to the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, where he commanded a company prior assuming the role of an infantry instructor.
Promoted to Chef de bataillon in 1958, he commanded a headquarter staff division of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 3e REI in the Sud-Oranais. He then commanded the Foreign at Madagascar, prior to becoming the regimental commander of the 1st Foreign Regiment 1e RE in 1970. During his tenure, the Operational Group of the Foreign Legion G.O.L.E was created, then in 1972, the Foreign Legion Groupment G.L.E at Aubagne and the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2e REI, leading to the formation of the Commandement de la Légion Étrangère which he assumed the first command.
He leaves the command of the Legion in 1973 to command, in 1974, the 23rd Territorial Military Division. He leaves active duty service in 1976.
Since October 22, 1977, général Letestu is the Patron of the École militaire interarmes promotion « Lieutenant Chezeau » (E.M.I.A 1977-1978) of the 1st Parachute Hussard Regiment 1er RHP.
Recognitions and Honors
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- Grand-croix de la Légion d'honneur
- Croix de guerre 1939-1945
- Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures
- Croix de la Valeur militaire
- Croix du combattant volontaire
- Médaille des évadés
- Croix du combattant
He was commended 13 times, 8 of which were in the Army order.