Will it never end . . . . .


France

Two non-commissioned officers of the French Foreign Legion were killed on 29th December 2011 during a joint French-Afghan operation in Kapisa. The two NCOs were shot and killed by a rogue Afghan Army soldier.

One of the Legionnaires has been named as CWO Mohammed El Gharrafa with 19 years of military service experience. The other man has not yet been identified. Both served with 2e REG (Foreign Engineering Regiment).

French Foreign Legion Chief Warrant Officer Mohammed El Gharrafa, age 39, was one of two Legionnaires killed by an Afghan soldier on 29th December 2011 in Kapisa.

The two non-commissioned officers, serving with the 2nd Foreign Engineering Regiment (2e REG), belonged to a French Mountain Commando Group. The attack took place during a joint French-Afghan operation in the Alassa Bedraou valley. A rogue Afghan National Army soldier shot and killed the two French Legionnaires.

CWO Gharrafa joined the Foreign Legion in December 1992. After his initial training in the 4th Foreign Regiment, he joined the 1st Foreign Engineering Regiment. In 1996 he began a two-year deployment with the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment in French Guiana. In 1999, he volunteered to serve in the 2nd Foreign Engineering Regiment and was involved in the formation of a Mountain Commando Group. He was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer on 1 December 2011.

CWO Gharrafa had deployed on several overseas operations: Bosnia, Tajikistan, Guyana, Lebanon, Djibouti. He deployed to Afghanistan in September.

He leaves a wife and four children.