Hélie de Saint Marc facts for kids

Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc (1922 – 2013) was a brave French soldier. He was a key member of the French Resistance during World War II. Later, he became an important officer in the French Army, serving in the famous French Foreign Legion.

He was known for leading the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1^er REP). In 1961, he took full responsibility for his actions during a difficult time called the Generals' Putsch. He was later honored for his service. In 2011, he received the highest French award, the Grand-Croix of the Legion of Honor.

A Life of Service

Fighting in the Resistance

Hélie de Saint Marc joined the French Resistance in February 1941 when he was 19 years old. The Resistance was a secret group fighting against the German occupation of France during World War II.

In July 1943, he was caught near the Spanish border. He was then sent to a German Concentration Camp called Buchenwald. He spent two years in a very harsh part of the camp called Langenstein-Zwieberge. Most people there did not survive.

Hélie was very sick, but a Latvian miner helped him by sharing food. When American soldiers freed the camp, Hélie was found unconscious. He had lost his memory but slowly recovered in a hospital. He was one of only 30 survivors out of 1,000 people sent to that camp.

After the war, at age 23, Hélie decided to continue his education at the Saint-Cyr Military Academy. This is a famous French military school.

The Indochina War

In 1948, Hélie de Saint Marc went to French Indochina (now Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) with the French Foreign Legion. He learned the local language and tried to understand the people he was fighting against. He was in charge of training local fighters to protect their villages.

He was stationed near the Chinese border. When Chinese troops defeated their own government, the war in Indochina changed. The French Army faced many challenges. After 18 months, Hélie and his troops had to leave. They were ordered to abandon the local people who had helped them.

This was a very difficult moment for Hélie. He called it his "yellow wound." He felt terrible about leaving the villagers behind. Many of them were later killed for helping the French.

Hélie returned to Indochina in 1951. He commanded a special company of Vietnamese paratroopers. He served with other important military leaders during this time.

The Suez Crisis

In 1956, Hélie de Saint Marc and his unit, the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment, took part in the Suez Crisis. This was a conflict over control of the Suez Canal in Egypt.

The Algerian War and the Putsch

Hélie de Saint Marc also served in the Algerian War. In April 1961, he was involved in an event called the Generals' Putsch in Algeria. This was a protest by some French generals and officers against the French government's decision to grant Algeria independence.

Hélie explained that he did not want to abandon the local people who had helped the French Army in Algeria. He felt it would be like what happened in Indochina. The putsch failed quickly. Hélie de Saint Marc took full responsibility for his actions and the actions of his soldiers. He spent five years in prison but was later pardoned in 1966.

During this time, the French Foreign Legion adopted the song "Non, je ne regrette rien" (No, I don't regret anything) by Edith Piaf. Legionnaires would sing it as they marched. It became an important part of their history.

Later Life and Honors

After his pardon, Hélie de Saint Marc started a new career in the metal industry in Lyon. In 1978, his full rights as a citizen and soldier were given back to him.

In 1988, his nephew wrote a successful book about his life. Hélie then wrote his own autobiography in 1995, which won an award. He traveled a lot, giving talks in the United States, Germany, and France. He also wrote other books, including one with a German officer about their experiences during World War II.

Hélie de Saint Marc received several high honors for his service:

• In 1979, he was awarded the Commander of the Légion d'honneur.
• In 2002, he received the Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur.
• In 2011, at 89 years old, he was given the Grand-Croix de la Légion d'honneur, the highest level of this award.

Funeral

Hélie de Saint Marc passed away on August 26, 2013. His funeral was held in Lyon Cathedral. Many important people attended, including military leaders and the mayor of Lyon. He was buried in La Garde-Adhémar.

Recognition and Honors

Ribbons

Decorations

• Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur, 28 November 2011
• Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur, 28 November 2002
• Commandeur of the Légion d'honneur, 23 June 1978
• Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (1 citation)
• Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures (8 citations)
• Croix de la Valeur Militaire (4 citations)
• Médaille des Evadés
• Médaille de la Résistance
• Croix du combattant volontaire de la Résistance
• Croix du combattant
• Colonial Medal with "Far East" clasp
• Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1939–1945
• Medal of deportation and detention for acts of resistance
• Commemorative Medal of the Indochina Campaign
• Commemorative Medal of Middle East Operations
• Commemorative Medal of Security and Maintaining Order Operations in North Africa with "Algerian" and "Tunisian" clasps
• Wounded soldiers badge (x2)
• Order of Civil Merit Sip Hoc Chau Thai, Officer

Posthumous Homage

Since March 15, 2015, a road in Béziers has been named after Hélie de Saint Marc.

Famous Sayings

Hélie de Saint Marc was known for his thoughtful words. Here are some of his famous quotes:

• "If one day, we no longer understand how a person could give their life for something bigger than themselves, it will be the end of a whole world, perhaps an entire civilization."

• From "What to tell a twenty-year-old...": "I would say that we live in a difficult time. The basic ideas of what we call Morals or Ethics are always being questioned. This is especially true for how we think about life itself. We face big questions about life in the coming years. Yes, we live in a tough time where being selfish, wanting money at any cost, and focusing only on material things are often stronger than the power of the human spirit."

• From "What to tell a twenty-year-old...": "Finally, I would tell him that of all good qualities, the most important is courage. It helps us use all other good qualities. The most important courage, to me, is the one we don't often talk about. It's the courage to stay true to your dreams from when you were young. Practicing this courage, these different kinds of courage, perhaps that is what it means to have 'The Honor of Living'."

See also

• Major (France)
• French Foreign Legion Music Band (MLE)
• Foreign Airborne Battalions and Regiments of France
• Christian Piquemal

Documentaries

• Patrick Jeudy, Un homme d’honneur (A Man of Honor), 1996.
• Alain de Sédouy, « Le dernier engagement » (The Last Engagement) d’Hélie de Saint Marc, 2008.
• Georges Mourier, Servir ? – Hélie de Saint Marc (Service ?), 2008.