Raoul Magrin-Vernerey

Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey (7 February 1892 - 3 June 1964), also known as Ralph Monclar, was a French Army and French Foreign Legion general who fought in World War I, World War II and commanded the French Battalion in the Korean War.

World War I
After studying in a seminary, at almost sixteen, he attempted to join the French Foreign Legion, where he was rejected on account of his youth. He entered the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, where he graduated in 1914 as a sous-lieutenant. He was posted as a junior officer to the 60th infantry regiment, and ended the war as a Capitaine. During the war he was wounded seven times and became a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, but had more than 90% disability.

Between the Wars
Between the wars, he served at various stations throughout French Syria, joining the Legion on March 1, 1924. He was promoted to Major in 1928. In 1931, he was transferred to service in Morocco with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment and followed service there in French Indochina with the 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 1 June 1938, after commanding a training regiment.

World War II
On February 23, 1940, he was appointed to command two battalions of Legionaries, which would shortly be known as the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade, commanding the 13 DBLE at the Battles of Narvik. After the evacuation of Norway, he spent a little time in France before joining the Free French in London, England with 500 of his men. He was promoted to Major General during the war. He was also a companion of the Liberation.

Korean War service
Rather than retire, at age 59, Monclar volunteered to join the French forces fighting in Korea. That force was known as the bataillon de Corée, and was attached to the 23rd United States Infantry Regiment as part of the 2nd Infantry Division. Monclar took a temporary demotion from lieutenant general to lieutenant colonel in order to command that formation. According to U.S. Army General Matthew Ridgeway: I shall speak briefly of the 23rd US Infantry Regiment, Colonel Paul L. Freeman commanding, [and] with the French Battalion. Isolated far in advance of the general battle line, completely surrounded in near-zero weather, they repelled repeated assaults by day and night by vastly superior numbers of Chinese. They were finally relieved. I want to say that these American fighting men, with their French comrades-in-arms, measured up in every way to the battle conduct of the finest troops America and France have produced throughout their national existence.

Decorations

 * Military Medal
 * Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
 * Companion of the Order of Liberation (1 June 1943)
 * Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (11 citations)
 * Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures (6 citations)
 * Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (3 citations)
 * Resistance Medal with rosette
 * Escapees' Medal
 * Insignia for the Military Wounded (7 stars)
 * Volunteer combatant's cross 1914–1918
 * Colonial Medal with bars "Maroc 25-26" and "Erythrée"
 * Syria-Cilicia commemorative medal
 * Volunteer combatant's cross
 * 1939–1945 Commemorative war medal
 * 1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal
 * Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France
 * Grand Officer of the Order of the Dragon of Annam
 * Military Cross (UK)
 * Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (UK)
 * Silver Star (US)
 * Legion of Merit (US)
 * Commander of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
 * Croix de guerre (Belgium)
 * Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
 * War Cross with sword (Norway)
 * Norwegian Commemorative Medal
 * Virtuti Militari (Poland)
 * Médaille Commémorative de Corée (UN)
 * Syrian Order of Merit
 * Mérite Libanais
 * Greek Croix de Guerre
 * Officer of the Order of the Star of Romania
 * Military Merit Targuk with silver star (Korea)
 * Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia
 * Grand Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite(Morocco)
 * Knight Grand Cross Order of the Star of Anjouan