A French Foreign Legionnaire Goes to War
ca. 1954
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The French fought to recolonize Vietnam from 1946 to 1954. The U.S. government needed France's cooperation to contain the spread of communism in Europe. From 1946 to 1950, it adopted a neutral policy toward the conflict. In 1950 President Harry S. Truman authorized direct financial and military assistance to the French.
This photograph shows a French Foreign Legionnaire taking part in a sweep of a communist area near Hanoi. The tank in the background was supplied by the United States. The original caption reads, "a French Foreign Legionnaire goes to war along the dry rib of a rice paddy, during a recent sweep through communist-held areas in the Red River Delta, between Haiphong and Hanoi. Behind the Legionnaire is a U.S. gifted tank."
This photograph shows a French Foreign Legionnaire taking part in a sweep of a communist area near Hanoi. The tank in the background was supplied by the United States. The original caption reads, "a French Foreign Legionnaire goes to war along the dry rib of a rice paddy, during a recent sweep through communist-held areas in the Red River Delta, between Haiphong and Hanoi. Behind the Legionnaire is a U.S. gifted tank."
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Information Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 541967
Full Citation: Photograph 306-PS-54(10014) ; A French Foreign Legionnaire goes to war along the dry rib of a rice paddy, during a recent sweep through communist-held areas in the Red River Delta, between Haiphong and Hanoi. Behind the Legionnaire is a U.S. gifted tank. Pix.; ca. 1954; Master File Photographs of U.S. and Foreign Personalities, World Events, and American Economic, Social, and Cultural Life, ca. 1953 - ca. 1994; Records of the U.S. Information Agency, Record Group 306; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/french-foreign-legionnaire-war, March 19, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
