Pierre Segrétain was born on 7 November 1909 into a military family. He graduated from Saint-Cyr, a prestigious French military academy, and was assigned to the 35th Infantry Regiment (35e RI) before joining the Foreign Legion, a military unit known for its international recruitment and elite status. Segrétain served in various locations, including Colomb-Béchar in Algeria between 1936 and 1938, and later in the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI). He was then posted to the Levant, where the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (6e REI) had recently been established. He took part in several battles during the early years of World War II, from 1939 to 1940. After the conflicts of 1941, which were particularly brutal and divisive for French forces, Segrétain chose to align with the French government and returned to North Africa. From 1942 to 1943, he fought in the Tunisia campaign as part of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (1e REIM) before being assigned to the RMLE, a unit involved in various military operations. His participation in the Allied landing in Provence on 15 August 1944, the breakthroughs at Belfort, the Doubs, Alsace, and Germany, earned him the cross of "Knight of the Legion of Honour," one of France’s highest military honors. Segrétain was recognized as an outstanding leader and a skilled tactician. After the war, Segrétain was assigned to the inter-service military school at Coëtquidan, where he continued his military education. Reflecting on the lessons of the disastrous 1940 campaign, he turned his attention to the future, which he believed lay in airborne forces. He obtained his paratrooper certification and was transferred to the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1e RCP). Appointed as a battalion commander, he volunteered for service in the Far East. Taking command of the 1st Foreign Engineer Battalion (1e BEP) on 1 July 1948, he reunited with the Legion he had left in 1945. For two years, Segrétain led his battalion through numerous difficult operations in Indochina. His achievements were notable, including raising the Legion’s flag over the old citadel of Tuyen-Quang and discovering the Song-Chay war factory. Despite suffering from sciatica and malaria, he led his battalion in a daring assault on That-Khé on 30 September 1950. However, the BEP failed before Dong-Khé three days later, and Segrétain was seriously wounded twice. As he lay dying, he ordered Captain Jeanpierre to leave him behind and save what could still be saved. His final words were, "The BEP, the BEP," before he passed away among his soldiers on 8 October 1950 at the age of 40. Segrétain was awarded eight citations, including four from the Army, and received numerous honors, including the Legion of Honour and several war medals.