commentary
What a 1963 Novel Tells Us About the French Army, Mission Command, and the Romance of the Indochina War
The novel La 317e Section (The 317th Platoon) informs and reflects an operating style rooted in the French Army's collective memory of the colonial wars. Colonial operations tended to be low-budget, small-footprint missions that placed junior officers in positions of considerable authority and responsibility. Service promised quick glory but was also more dangerous.
Read More »Sep 20, 2017
War on the Rocks