How the French Foreign Legion Helps Veterans Cope with Life after War 

On June 5, 2003, Siegfried Freytag, the man with 102 victories, is buried with military honors in the military square of the Puyloubier cemetery. In addition to the military honors owed to a former legionnaire, the director of the institution addressed the deceased saying to him: "My commander, your glorious past in German aviation will not be forgotten". On the decorations cushion, in addition to the French decorations, was the Ritterkreuz. An officer representing the Luftwaffe was present.

We USED to do this here in the U.S., but over the years, the "veterans homes" have been slowly disappearing in favor of the VA hospitals. We treat criminals better than we do our veterans here...and that's a damn shame!

I guess for career soldiers sadly the real war begins after the service. Retirement, the same old rotten civilian life that you were trying to escape in the first place. A decent roof over your head, some place safe where you could keep your regiment pictures, a square meal, some gardening to keep you going & a few old friends to share your stories with. Just the same old rotten civilian life. I'm proud that France is looking after them. God bless them. Shame on countries who neglect their heroes. They deserve better not food banks or charities. :(

I'm a veteran of us navy...I regret that I did not pursue my desire to join the Legion after 4 years in the navy.....the Legion has a great camaraderie.

As retired member of the US Army 82nd Abn and 10th MTN division I learn to respect courage and traditions . The man of the Legion have build a tradition and reputation that must be respect it and emulated . I read how the 2Para during the war of indochina rip their regiment colors and gave a piece to each of their members so the color did not fall in the hands of their enemy. The French officers and Army at that time fail them by not keep them resupply and end up capture. Only 3,000 of the 16,000 there made it back to France......

I am an American francophile. I am a conservative, gentile white male. There were no soldiers in the 20th century like the French at Douament and Verdun. Also, Jean Baptiste Ellisalde (sp?) is my favorite rugby player. Long live Louis Celine, Flaubert and Victor Hugo.

I served in the United States Marine Corps and as a warrior I give respect to these.

God Bless the Veterans & Thank You for Your Service

In 1992, I was in Sarajevo as a Canadian infantry soldier on a UN tour. I worked around the FFL men, and it was a pleasure to work with them. Fine men.

Ancien sous officier de l'arme du Génie, je suis fier de cette Légion qui n'abandonne pas ses soldats quelque soit leur passé ou leur devenir - Puisse la Nation honorer ces hommes et l'institution qui est un exemple de fidélité a ses engagements.

These men take pride, time, and give alot of love to their vets.

I don't like the title of this video. Since when is taking care of these veterans considered a "crutch" or a "hand out" when, in fact, they have more than earned every bit of care they deserve?? Who are more deserving than these damaged men of war?? A lot of people like to make fun of the French. However, it is the French who are setting the right example. These other countries who make fun of the French 'know' what is right. But it is the French who "DO" what is right (or at least the Legion does).

they treat there vets better then we do in the USA

One of the if not the biggest mistake of my life was not joining The Legion. I let a family member talk me out of that and instead spent a career in my native lands Military. It was not a bad life however I’ve met and known some Legionnaires and they have a bond that is like no other.

Thank You France, Thank You Foreign Legion for taking care of your Veterans Foreign Legion Soldiers.

The best 5 years 4 months of my life, I went to pulylobier when I was at castelnaudary, went back again a few years ago.

At the end, 10:35, the officer says "The legion never leave behind his legionnaires, neither in battle, nor in life"

The battle history of the Legion is second to none...and the Legion takes care of its own.

Great to see the FFL looking after it's own. Every military service should use this as an example to follow! 👍

Yeah this is bullshit. If only America had something like this for vets!

So proud of the FFL for taking care of their own after time served. So happy we of the USMC never tangled with you fine men, for it would have been a tough stand, man to man, and lord have mercy, sometimes hand to swearing hand. Go eacy, fellow vets and new recurits. Happy to have, at least, known of you. Besides, you give a guy a break.....he got a little sideways with the law. New name, new start. Simper fi.

the respect and care to the men here is awesome, well done the legion, you have my respect for that alone

Vive la Legion.This is how all veterans should be looked after. The British government should hang it's head in shame at how some of ours are existing ,homeless and alone on the streets .This life these men lead is more than deserved. "Vive la Legion".

Respect to the Legion Treat their members as family.

i think that the legion does look after its own, like most armies in the western world, america, and australia and nz. but, as an ex british army soldier (15yrs) i am so glad that i have my comrades,but, live with my family. god bless guys. you are some of the best.

The fact that they look after their own is a great credit to them. In the UK veterans have no priority for housing, and many sleep rough. We are far more interested in housing Muslim immigrants.

The best soldiers in the world!!!

What loyalty! I wish America took care of it's own.

The Legion provides a home for legionnaires who are old! My God-do you know what it takes to get a VA appointment here in the states? The respect I have for the Legion is all encompassing!

It does show that the Legion looks after its own when they are too old or ill to survive outside. Shame on the UK for letting its veterans live in poverty. I served for 8 years; the best time and the best friends of my life.

The Legion is the Ultimate Cohesion among Men. Nothing than that can be better. Comrades until the last breath. VIVE LA LEGION!!

There’s only around 7,500 Legionnaires. That is extremely elite. These guys are first class.

That is wonderful. God bless them all.

Nice to see they have something for them to do. It's not easy in the base case to readjust to civilian life after time in the military.

This is how you take care of your own. Nothing like this in the U. S. Shameful.

Veterans deserve all they get, and more!

Beaucoup de respect pour la Legion Etrangere et sa soldats!

For large number of people who never served in the Foreign Legion, retirement is a sad waiting room before dying..... The Legion does try to look after its own, and comes out well in comparison with, say, the UK..... The narrator is very much flaunting his own prejudices.

Something both the British and Americans need to consider if they want to attract loyal young men.

I'm glad they at least try to help them and they deserve that help. I had a friend who was a vet of the Legion. Typical of his generation he wouldn't talk about his service. He wasn't rude, in fact he was a gentlemen in all ways. Being careful not to be pushy we'd go out for dinner and drinks at the away from home terminal (railroaders) and keep plying him with glasses of wine and we could get him to tell us a few stories. He fought in Algiers against the Berbers and Arabs, his battalion eventually had something like 80% casualties so almost every soldier was at the least wounded once. We got him to talk about the training and it was what you'd expect of an elite fighting force. He'd ask me if I was a draft dodger and I'd tell him no and he'd say well that's good, I think the military is good for a boy! But I'd be thinking "well yeah but probably not the Legion!" Many of his guys were Germans and he asked if I knew who they were and I said yes I was aware of that. What was interesting was his parents had been put to death by the SS or Gestapo I forget which and I don't know where in Europe. He said his finest memory was when after spending what seemed to be a lifetime training he was finally called by his name (and not something like moron, shithead etc.) and given his Kepi, candle light, hundreds of people and family he hadn't been allowed to see until the ceremony. Glad to see they at least attempt to help them.

If every military in the world took care of their own after their service, too bad

After I'm done with my studies and my current contract, the legion begins a whole new chapter on life.

Was offered a chance by a very dangerous man a long time ago talking in a bar late one night ,he appreciated the skills of Aussie infantry . At least the Legion look after the living dead , most govts don't .

There were 53 major conflicts in Europe. France have been a belligerent party in 49 of them, and the United Kingdom in 43. Among 185 battles that France delivered during the last 800 years, french armies have won 132 of them, and will have lost 43, leaving only 10 undecided battles. So giving to the French servicemen the record of victories in Europe" BBC Oh and by the way the battle of france; it was 6 weeks and not "less than amonth". And during these weeks, the germans lost 160 000 soldiers, most of 50% of the Luftwaffe sent in France and 1800 tanks (second most bloodier operation after Barbarossa) Not bad for cowards as you think.

Think about this: the legion has a reputation of never surrendering EVER! They always to the last man still drawing breath. Think of Captain Dejieu and his company; they got swarmed by a Mexican battalion and only five legionnaires made it out alive. No ammunition left, so they fixed bayonets and charged; they never surrendered.

You get a better salary then a Gurka and promotion chances, you get a French passport after serving your term, a Gurka gets send back regardless, you can retire with the help of the Legion in that nice chateau between the wine and good food, a Gurka go's back to his mountain home between mountain goats and snow avalanche. The Legion takes care of its own and Gurkas are joining up in ever increasing numbers.

I have a rendezvous with Death At some disputed barricade, When Spring comes back with rustling shade And apple-blossoms fill the air- I have a rendezvous with Death When Spring brings back blue days and fair. It may be he shall take my hand And lead me into his dark land And close my eyes and quench my breath- It may be I shall pass him still. I have a rendezvous with Death On some scarred slope of battered hill, When Spring comes round again this year And the first meadow-flowers appear. God knows 'twere better to be deep Pillowed in silk and scented down, Where love throbs out in blissful sleep, Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath, Where hushed awakenings are dear . . . But I've a rendezvous with Death At midnight in some flaming town, When Spring trips north again this year, And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous. Alan Seeger... (22 June 1888 - 4 July 1916) American Poet/Legionnaire Volunteer fought & died in WW I

Yeah the tile is a Misnomer! I am glad The Legion takes care of it's veterans.

Just realized the one drinking wine at 2:45 was missing most of the fingers on his left hand. Harsh.

its a beautiful place i loved and enjoyed working, helping there for a week.

Subtitles would have been nice.

True point - whilst in the Military we are taught to look after our own, to leave no one behind. Then the day you discharge you are on your own. Many Nations could learn much from this Institution.

RESPECT FROM ROMANIA!!!

We now need similar 'Units' in the U.K.. We have Soldiers who have spent all their adult lives in or training for Active Service,and often on actual 'Life or Death' combat.Many years have been spent to develop their altered perspectives,they are far from the Civilians who joined so long ago.If needed they should be able to live usefully in Veteran's groups,living a life they understand,usefully with pride.

That's a lot better than some of our poor guys get and from what I know of the legion its not been easy to say the least

The Foreign Legion defiantly has my respect......

The title of this video is WRONG!!! FFL take care of their veterans much more Then other countries!!! No crutch they are being well taken cared of and serving a purpose into the end! Respect! Regards from Sweden

Right on! As an American born of French parents, when I think of the legion I am so proud I can tell you. J'espere que la France sera toujours fidele a vous...vous le merite.

Same goes for almost all soldiers of all nations. They fight for their comrades first, their country second.

Great men all of them!!!

That narrator has no idea what a soldier is. He wouldn't know honor if he stepped in it. Bravo to the legion for caring for their own.

Legion veterans face the same fate most of us US military veterans: alcoholism, violence, depression, no assistance, and little chance of employment. Different uniforms, different wars, same fate. Only fellow warriors know the pain.

THIS IS OUTSTANDING. THIS IS THE WAY TO TREAT THE VETS PROPERLY.

From the outside looking in they appear to have an unmatched combination of camaraderie and discipline. Both must haves.

Respect to veterans ,viev LEGION ETRANGERE.

The title of this video is completely misleading.

The Legion is family and most French don't really understand it. Unless you somehow mess up really bad, the Legion is still Family. Many in the Legion actually have families but all the Legion are family. They take care of their own and most civilians cannot grasp it. Only a few can earn and wear the Kepi Blanc.

This is good......its rare to see other countries give so much opportunities for 🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵foreign veterans...

God bless you,old soldiers.

Most units of any military around the world don't have any such facility to provide for veterans like this.

Vive la France, Vive la Legion. More Majorum.

The Foreign Legion one of my favorite units I would join them if i had the money to get to France....Much respect to the men of the Legion..You wanna know how hard they are read up on Diem Bien Phu the paras jumped into combat even tho the battle was lost jus to be with there brothers fighting and dying on the ground...Vive la France...

The French commandant: “I don’t want to upset you (the English reporter) but I m Afraid that ex German pilot shot 104 Anglo-Saxon during ww2”....

These are truly men of honor.

Honneur et Fidelite Mes frères 🇫🇷⚔️🦅 Longue vie Legio Patria Nostra

respect for france, they look after their own warriors

As an Englishman - who will always regard the French with some degree of mistrust (sorry, Centuries of history of my ancestors fighting the buggers makes me feel that way) - I wish to say that I have the ultimate respect for the 'French Foreign Legion'. In my 7th Decade on this planet however, I see the futility of ALL wars, but also the need for soldiers such as these. I also believe that those who have given so much for their country - or indeed another country - should be treated with respect and yes, compassion, once their usefulness as a fighting soldier is past. Chances are, they have seen things and done things that will haunt them until the day they die! I will not live to see it, but I hope that one day we (Humanity) will learn what truly matters in life and learn to live together and work together in such a way that EVERYONE - no matter his colour or Creed will be given an equal crack at life. Good luck guys - and may life for you from this day on, be more peaceful and rewarding.......

LEGIO PATRIA NOSTRA ! Longue vie à la Légion !

I spoke with Freitag! All my respect to him!

Not only does France offer men who are trying to escape their checkered-past an opportunity to redeem themselves and start over... France also doesn't forget them once their service is up. America could most certainly learn something from this.

Its called looking after your own. A civilian would have difficulty understanding that concept.

Good wine, good food, and a good cigar.

Legionnaire Freytag died on the second of June 2003.

At least they take care of their own and have a place to fade away in brotherhood, possibly finding some peace and solace toward the end of their days.

My father was in Seige of Stalingrad and the Battle of Narva. After the war he wanted join the Legion. Then he married my mother- the Legion would have been better for him.

This is incredible

The best of the best from all around the world.

God Bless Them

Rest In Peace. LPN

The story of the German flying ACE is sad but also astonishing. Imagine being decorated with the iron cross the highest honor in your country. Then to find as the war ends all the people you loved and known were wiped out. Nowhere to go he ends up as a lowly foot solider fighting in Indochina for France a country for which for a time was under German rule.

I respect courage not matter from who it comes from. The man of the legion would not kill innocent people like ISIS did in Paris.....

Makes Perfect Sense

La légion a toujours su intégrer les meilleurs combattants, sans jamais regarder leur provenance. Elle a intégré de nombreux communistes républicains Espagnols anti Franquistes en 1939, comme elle accueillera en 1945 les anciens soldats de l'armée Allemande ou Italienne, et autres... il n'existe pas d'idéologie politique, de races, ou de religions à la légion. La légion gère par la suite, suivant les origines des conflits. Lorsque la légion est parti se battre en France pendant la guerre 1914/1918, les légionnaires Allemands sont restés en Afrique, sauf les volontaires désireux de se battre contre leur propre pays. Ceci dit, il reste parfois très difficile, pour certains légionnaires, de se ré insérer dans une vie civile normale.

La famiglia vera non abbandona mai i meno fortunati. Onore alla legione!

I felt tremendously sad watching this

God Speed to my French Legionnaire brothers; United States Marine Corps 1980-1991 Semper Fi

Luftwaffe ace's and legionnaire, Siegfried Freytag died on the 5th june 2003. He was 83 and was buried with the military honors amongst his brothers in arms.

Vive Le Legion, blood of heroes! Legio Patria Nostra forever :) The FFL indeed, and an old Legionnaire never dies he just marches onward to eternal victory!

"Damaged by life?" Pardon, but if there's any damaging to be done these glorious badass bastards will do it, s'il vous plait.

Wow..!!! Who takes care of their veterans these days a?? They truly are a family.. funny tho, if anyone out there remembers when they were 20, and your life then, and the life these guys lived, and where you are now,.... who feels safe..?? You or them...?? Fantastic and humbling.. : )