"The paratroopers of the French Foreign Legion are respected worldwide as some of the most skilled and dangerous soldiers on earth. This "elite of the elite," the Second Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment (2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes, or 2nd REP), has a rich history spanning the Indochina War, the Zaire hostage rescue, the Gulf War, and innumerable operations preventing coups and terrorism in former French colonies. A crack regiment of highly professional French officers and men of many races and nationalities - including Americans and British - it is the spearhead of France's rapid reaction force." "Howard R. Simpson is uniquely qualified among defense analysts to tell the colorful story of the 2nd REP. Not only did he observe the unit in action during the Indochina War, but he was given unprecedented access to Legion archives, photography, and present-day personnel, and he was permitted to accompany paras on training drops and field exercises. With an insider's understanding, he reviews the history of French paratroop units from World War II and places the 2nd REP into this context as the contemporary Legion's only airborne unit. He then traces the regiment's campaigns and actions to the present day, covering in fascinating detail its training, equipment, tactics, deployment, personnel, and role within the French military." "Based on conversations with the men of the 2nd REP, the author's on-the-spot observations, and his encyclopedic knowledge of the military, The Paratroopers of the French Foreign Legion is the first in-depth book available in English about this legendary band of airborne warriors. It will likely stand the test of time as the definitive account in any language."--BOOK JACKET.