2RHPZ
08-25-2007, 08:59 AM
Shaba II:
The French and Belgian
Intervention in Zaire
in 1978
by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas P. Odom
.......
As Bourgain's section approached the bridge, the rebel fire intensified. He sent a squad to maneuver against the bridge, supported by a barrage of rifle grenades to force the rebels back. Threatening their left flank with his third squad, Bourgain took the bridge, cutting off rebel infiltration from Manika. On his southern flank, his snipers, under the direction of Sergeant Touami, had killed 10 rebels with head shots at ranges in excess of 300 meters. The rebels were concentrated around the Ecole Technique Officiale, and Bourgain ordered his section NCO, Sergeant Moreau, to take the building. While Corporal Callerf enfiladed the rebel withdrawal route with his machine gun, Moreau took the school. Callerf stopped the rebels from retreating six times, each time killing one of the FNLC. When Bourgain got to the school, he found that the rebels had left nine dead behind, along with their weapons.28
By this time, Bourgain realized that he was in an overextended position. Just as he started to order his men back to safer positions, one Legionnaire heard French voices coming from the nearby police camp. Upon being told of the French cries, Bourgain yelled out, "Armée Francaise!" and received an immediate response from the refugees. Realizing the people were hostages in a building filled with rebels, Bourgain assaulted the position. Just as the lieutenant kicked the door of the building open, he spotted and killed a rebel who held an armed grenade. In the act of throwing the grenade into a room with twentysix Europeans and nine blacks, the rebel collapsed and let the explosive roll back toward Bourgain. Reacting quickly, the lieutenant dived back out the door as the grenade exploded harmlessly in the entrance of the building.29
Bourgain's actions turned out to be the only incident where direct military action saved hostages from being killed. The reports of a rebel withdrawal were true-as were the reports of massacres in the city. But for the most part, the killings had reached their peak on 16 and 17 May. Most of the FNLC regulars departed for Angola on the 18th. However, the rebels' locally recruited militia and some regulars had remained behind. These were the forces fighting the 2d R.E.P.30
.......
Source (http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/odom2/odom2.asp)
The French and Belgian
Intervention in Zaire
in 1978
by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas P. Odom
.......
As Bourgain's section approached the bridge, the rebel fire intensified. He sent a squad to maneuver against the bridge, supported by a barrage of rifle grenades to force the rebels back. Threatening their left flank with his third squad, Bourgain took the bridge, cutting off rebel infiltration from Manika. On his southern flank, his snipers, under the direction of Sergeant Touami, had killed 10 rebels with head shots at ranges in excess of 300 meters. The rebels were concentrated around the Ecole Technique Officiale, and Bourgain ordered his section NCO, Sergeant Moreau, to take the building. While Corporal Callerf enfiladed the rebel withdrawal route with his machine gun, Moreau took the school. Callerf stopped the rebels from retreating six times, each time killing one of the FNLC. When Bourgain got to the school, he found that the rebels had left nine dead behind, along with their weapons.28
By this time, Bourgain realized that he was in an overextended position. Just as he started to order his men back to safer positions, one Legionnaire heard French voices coming from the nearby police camp. Upon being told of the French cries, Bourgain yelled out, "Armée Francaise!" and received an immediate response from the refugees. Realizing the people were hostages in a building filled with rebels, Bourgain assaulted the position. Just as the lieutenant kicked the door of the building open, he spotted and killed a rebel who held an armed grenade. In the act of throwing the grenade into a room with twentysix Europeans and nine blacks, the rebel collapsed and let the explosive roll back toward Bourgain. Reacting quickly, the lieutenant dived back out the door as the grenade exploded harmlessly in the entrance of the building.29
Bourgain's actions turned out to be the only incident where direct military action saved hostages from being killed. The reports of a rebel withdrawal were true-as were the reports of massacres in the city. But for the most part, the killings had reached their peak on 16 and 17 May. Most of the FNLC regulars departed for Angola on the 18th. However, the rebels' locally recruited militia and some regulars had remained behind. These were the forces fighting the 2d R.E.P.30
.......
Source (http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/odom2/odom2.asp)