Jules Gaucher

Jules Gaucher (13 September 1905 – 13 March 1954) was a French Army officer noted for his command of Foreign Legion troops in Indochina. Described as a "burly, hard-drinking veteran of years of jungle fighting, with a nose like an axe-blade and a mouth like its cut", Gaucher was a popular commander among the Legion, known as 'the Old Man' to his troops. He was killed at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

Jules Gaucher
Nickname(s)The Old Man
Born(1905-09-13)13 September 1905
Bourges, France
Died13 March 1954(1954-03-13) (aged 48)
Điện Biên Phủ, Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Allegiance France
Service/branchFrench Army
Years of service1929–1954
RankLieutenant Colonel
Commands held13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade
Groupe Mobile 9
Battles/warsFranco-Thai War
World War II
First Indochina War
*Battle of Hòa Bình
*Battle of Dien Bien Phu
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