European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 22, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Camel charges Are out but the legion lives on by Mort Rosenblum associated press Legionnaire Ryjoi Burda  Indochina a Gerla and nearly Ever French skirmish since. Is a kindly Grandfather who works office hours designing Christma Scards. Of i miss he Callon a Little said Burda a 54 year old top sergeant from Austria who still grumbles that he did t see action at Dlan Blen Phu the 19s4 bal la that marked the end of France s Indochina War. We were already up in Dakotas ready to jump but Tharo was too much fire a said two Days tier ii fell Burda s is a same foreign legion that King Louis Philippe formed in 1 831 and . Wren Mads famous who tha novel Beau Esste. Ii is the same foreign legion whose rec Rulis once were admonished by a general you legionnaires have become soldiers to die. Me i will Send you to where death  the world has changed however and Camel charges Ere out of fashion. The legion moved its Headquarters to Autagne. A features Industrial town neat Marseille after algerian. Independence in 1962 forced it out of its Forf at sift bal Abbes. Brought along Wera the imposing Monument to the dead and relics like the wooden hand capt Jean Dan Loulos in 1854 when 2,000 mexicans attacked and 85 legionnaires fought until the last toe out of buffets charged Wilh bayonets Burda who joined the the Glinin 1949, is Art Factor of a of Stana he legion s monthly ones Kew the men in Autagne keep the legion s books count lie Strk darn us calendars and can slim cards. Most of the 8,500 legionnaires Are in bases strewn however he legion guards trains and wails. French foreign Lagola Matt Tat Ahng the Champi Elys Al Kourou. In French Guiana legionnaires watch the european space Agency launch pads and work on roads and Bridges. In French polynesia they guard nuclear test sties and work on roads and Bridges. A Large Force of based in steaming Djibouti a former French Colony on the red sea and a Delac men is in Mayotte a piece of overseas France near Madagascar in the Indian Ocean nearly Hail the men Are French but 104 other nationalities Are represented. Former legionnaires included . Composer Cote Porter six princes and a few Trappist monks since the falklands War. British recruits approach 10 percent. Germans once the most numerous foreigners Tola Zelghi percent. Officers Are mostly from the French army it. Col. . Cola Roll lha legion s spokesman explained we entrust arms to foreigners to Delend our soil As a weapon of the French army the same As a tank or a nuclear  he said 1,100 of 1.200 men Are selected each year from Between 6,000 and 7,000 applicants. We give a rigorous medical examination a intelligence test and we ask Why they want to join he said. Most applicants find they us do not fit into society Chiaroni said. About 20 percent Are Here Lor Security they want to camouflage themselves for a White false Idan Tuinei Are still the custom but murderers and serious criminals Are not Welcome. The anonymity and Romance attracted Wren s Geste Brothers who signed up As Smith and Brown in the 1920s and ended up in a desert mud fort holding off Dowling arabs from the Cren elated ramparts. Terms have not changed since a Recruiter sold Geste you will be a Soldier of France entirely amenable to martial Law without any Appeal whatsoever. Yout friends cannot possibly buy you out and your Consul cannot help you for live years. Nothing bul death can remove you from the  today there is a slight flexibility. Men Are Given up to six months to reconsider and might be excused during that period. By then after Lour months Boot Camp Artey Are tunning 16 Miles a Day Over rough terrain Wilh a 40-Pound pack. In More isolated posts morale can be a problem. Music is part of the tradition from stirring marches to the singing of Edith rial s Jene Reg Rena Rien i regret nothing Fay the 1st Parachute regiment in 1361. In Algeria on its Way to punishment alter being involved a a held King love Philip of town Jed Trie legion in 183. In an attempt to overthrow Charles do Galle. In the late 19701, tha socialists and communists pushed to disband the legion. The National Assembly thought otherwise. Each april 30. The legion commemorates the mexican Battle Camerone and Danjou s hand is paraded with the Green and red colors. Afterwards everyone eals Tjo Udin a blood sausage. Marching at a cadence Bibb Steps to the minute they sing 1 during our Lar Olf campaigns facing Levof and fire in our pain we to gel death which forgets us so Lillie we the  legionnaires get regular French army pay. Double tie Basic training and a severe disciplinary regime. Afterwards they Are recommended Lor French nationality. An associated press correspondent encountered two British deserters several years ago in Somalia. They had walked three Days across open desert to escape. We could not take it anymore said one who did nol give his name. We were up at Dawn running ail morning in the Sun carrying a Fuchs digging working until Tala at night. I was not  cola Ron said