“Yes Sir. One Corporal, killed and another wounded. Sergeant Westhaus was busy, Sir. The Lieutenant ordered Legionnaire Spilyades and me to stand in, Sir.”
“You did well.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“And you fought at Chelia; promoted to Corporal.”
December 1960; Commandant Cabrio led the Regiment as it pulverized a Fell band in a fierce fight up and down tree-lined slopes. The Fell had fifty-four dead. We had ten men killed and nineteen wounded.
“You didn"t hold back Sergeant. You were awarded the Medaille Militaire.”
“Doing my job, Sir.”
The CO stared hard at me then glanced again at my file. His attention to my details was impressive. “This last year was difficult.”
“Yes Sir.”
We hunted Fell bands while the French and the FLN negotiated. On contact, we wiped them out.
“It was hard work
