Product Description

After finishing university but not ready to settle down, Gareth Carins joined the French Foreign Legion in 1996 and served for five years in their elite Parachute Regiment. He experienced at first hand the extremes of human nature, witnessing both the brutal cruelty shown by some Legionnaires in the name of tradition, to the personal sacrifices shown by others. Along the way he met many of the fascinating characters that come from all corners of the world to serve in the ranks of the Foreign Legion. Diary of a Legionnaire is a candid and eye opening insight into this mysterious army, told through Gareth's exciting and at times humorous adventures during the first eighteen months of his service, as we follow him from the brutality of basic training, to the realities of combat in the jungles of West Africa

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #168959 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 228 pages

Customer Reviews

The Legend Of The Legion
Gareth Cairns account of his time in the Legion is the ultimate page turner from the very start when he presents himself at Aubagne not really sure what to expect,but ready for anything.'It didn't disappoint'...in providing the adventure he sort. From the brutality of The Farm to the emotion of receiving his Kepi Blanc and entering this unique of all military organisations we are kept wanting to know what happens next. After endless training in various specialities, with the ever present injustice of the Legions hierachy, we follow Gareth into some of the most unpredictable and volatile African countries.Here events unfold at alarming speed and the mixture of the suffering and futility of conflict are contrasted against the humanity and dignity of those simply trying to survive. The description of Legionaires having a hog roast in the garden of the Guinness factory they have been sent to guard in the Central African Republic will bring a wry smile to even the most hardened of men. As a recent personal account of one mans experience in the internationally renound French Foreign Legion I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who seeks accounts of real life adventure.

Recommended Reading
Open and honest account of life in the foreign legion. Very interesting read covering basic & parachute training, 2 tours of duty and a lot more. Very entertaining, kept my attention throughout. Highly recommended.

We dream, Gareth did
This book is a gripping account of one mans self determination to overcome all the odds. We all say to ourselves 'i could do that'. Well Gareth did what most of us wouldnt, he actually did it and came out the other side a wiser knowledgable man for it. Anyone reading his account of these5 years of his life cant help but be put in his shoes on every page, you run his runs, you fight his fights you shed his tears and you feel as proud of him as he does himself. I guarantee once you read the first page this book will not leave your side until you turn the last page over. And then you may read it again just to take it all in. Most of us will have regrets when we grow old, not Gareth, he enlisted and survived in the toughest army in the world. An englishman in a foreign country in a foreign army. Sir, l salute you.