Rémy Raffalli

Infobox Military Person
name=Barthélémy Raffali


caption=
born=16 March 1913
died=10 September 1951
placeofbirth=Nice, France
placeofdeath=Saigon, State of Vietnam
nickname=Rémy
allegiance=France
branch=French Army
serviceyears=1933-1951
rank=Major
unit=
commands=2e BEP
battles=World War II
*Italian Campaign
First Indochina War
awards=
relations=
laterwork=

Barthélémy “Rémy” Raffali (16 March 1913 – 10 September 1951) was a French Army soldier that fought in World War II and First Indochina War.

He joined Saint-Cyr Military School on 1 October 1933, as a part of the King Albert I promotion, and graduates in 1935. Raffali than chooses the armoured cavalry arm of the French Army and studies at the Saumur Cavalry School. In 1936 he joins the 1st Algerian Spahis Regiment at Médéa, then the 3rd Moroccan Spahis Regiment. Raffali joins the French Expeditionary Corps for Italy in 1943 and distinguished himself. He was seriously wounded on 17 March 1944 while leading a company of the 5th Moroccan Spahis Regiment.

Raffali takes his parachute badge in September 1949. After a short tour in the 3rd and 1st Foreign Parachute Battalions, he takes command of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion on 12 September 1950 in Hanoi, Vietnam. He is promoted to major on 1 July 1951 and lead the battalion during the Battle of Nghia Lo in October 1951. He was fatally wounded on 1 September 1951 while leading his battalion; he dies on 10 September 1951 in Saigon.

Decorations

*Légion d'honneur
**Knight (1944)
**Officer (1951)
**Commander (1951)
*Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with one bronze star
*Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Exterieures with one bronze star