Pierre Lecomte was born on August 20, 1918, towards the end of the Great War.
Upon completion of his post graduate studies, he chose to be a soldier and succeeded in the Saint-Cyr entrance examination. He was a member of the Franco-British Friendship batch. He graduated in the Moroccan Colonial Infantrymen, was taken prisoner in 1940 but subsequently escaped. He joint the African Army within the 8th RTM at Meknes. Still an infantryman, Second Lieutenant Lecomte distinguished himself as a section leader in Italy, and later on as a company commander during the French campaign.
During the Indochina War, he was the commander of the 3/2RTM in 1951.
He caught the "parachute" fever at the 4th office of the Nassam entrenched camp! He subsequently served under Colonel Gilles’ staff during the Langson gull operations. He participated actively in the planning of the operation and dropped at Dien Bien Phu with the first parachutist gang during the Castor operation. In December 1953, while the end of his stay had been over due by several weeks, he, alongside General Gilles, was asked to return home.
In Algeria, initially sent to the 3rd office of the 10th DP, and thereafter appointed deputy commander of the 14th RCP, he became the commander thereof in 1960. Undisputed leader, brilliant officer, exemplary soldier, he was admired and venerated by his men. In April 1961, instead of obedience, he willingly opted for the path of Honour at the helm of his regiment. This brought his career to an abrupt end and earned him eight years of criminal detention! His regiment was dissolved and his men transferred and scattered in various units, notably the assault commandos.
Thereafter, he made a second brilliant career at the Human Resource Department of "L'air Liquide", an important position that enabled him to render great services to buddies in difficulties.
Pierre Lecomte died on September 2009 at 91. His last wish was that a parachute section should pay him tribute. His funeral took place on Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at the Saint-Louis Cathedral des Invalides, Paris.
This famous prestigious volunteer serviceman, holder of the Great Cross of the Legion of Honour since 2006, had received, during his career, 12 commendations. He also held several awards: Silver Star (won during the Garigliano battle), the Second World War cross, the Overseas Operations cross, and the military valour cross.