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Changes: 3rd Parachute Battalion (Belgium)

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|unit_name=
 
|unit_name=
 
Belgian United Nations Command (1950-1955)<br>3rd Paracommando Battalion (1955-1959)<br>3rd Parachute Battalion (1959-)
  
Belgian United Nations Command (1950-1955)<br>3rd Paracommando Battalion (1955-1959)<br>3rd Parachute Battalion (1959-)
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|image= [[File:Para beix.jpg|200px]]
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|image=Para beix.jpg
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|image_size=200px
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|caption= Soldiers from the 3rd Parachute Battalion parade in [[Kortrijk]], 1971.
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|caption= Soldiers from the 3rd Parachute Battalion parade in Kortrijk, 1971.
 
|dates=1950-
  
|dates=1950-
 
|country={{flag|Belgium}}<br>{{flag|Luxembourg}} <small>(1950-1953)</small>
  
|country={{flag|Belgium}}<br>{{flag|Luxembourg}} <small>(1950-1953)</small>
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|current_commander=
 
|current_commander=
 
|garrison=[[Tielen]]
  
|garrison=[[Tielen]]
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|ceremonial_chief_label=
 
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|colonel_of_the_regiment=
  
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|colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
  
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|nickname=
  
 
|motto= "Belgium"
  
|motto= "Belgium"
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|colors=
 
 
|identification_symbol=[[File:Brevet Para be.jpg|100px]]
  
|identification_symbol=[[File:Brevet Para be.jpg|100px]]
 
|identification_symbol_label=Parachute Qualification Brevet
  
|identification_symbol_label=Parachute Qualification Brevet
 
|identification_symbol_4=[[File:Brevet Cdo be.jpg|100px]]
  
|identification_symbol_4=[[File:Brevet Cdo be.jpg|100px]]
 
|identification_symbol_4_label=Commando Qualification Brevet
  
|identification_symbol_4_label=Commando Qualification Brevet
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|march=
 
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|mascot=
  
 
|battles= [[Korean War]]<br>[[Congo Crisis]]<br>[[UNIFIL|Lebanon]]<br>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]
  
|battles= [[Korean War]]<br>[[Congo Crisis]]<br>[[UNIFIL|Lebanon]]<br>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]
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|notable_commanders=
 
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|anniversaries=
  
 
}}
  
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==Corps of Volunteers for Korea==
  
==Corps of Volunteers for Korea==
 
{{Main|Belgian United Nations Command}}
  
{{Main|Belgian United Nations Command}}
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After the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in 1950, the [[United Nations]] asked the Belgian government for military assistance. Belgium, conscious of the vast cost and logistical difficulties of sending large numbers of men or equipment across the world, elected to put an elite unit under UN command.<ref name=BATKW1>{{cite web|last=Bud|first=Guy|title=Belgians and the Korean War|url=http://www.belgiansandthekoreanwar.co.uk/index.htm|accessdate=24 November 2012}}</ref> Since the Belgian constitution forbade sending anyone but volunteers on overseas deployments in peacetime, it was not possible to send an existing battalion, so the [[Belgian United Nations Command]] (known as BUNC) was created. BUNC also incorporated a platoon of volunteer from Luxembourg. BUNC soldiers wore Brown Berets with a new cap badge to distinguish them from other Belgian units.
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After the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in 1950, the United Nations asked the Belgian government for military assistance. Belgium, conscious of the vast cost and logistical difficulties of sending large numbers of men or equipment across the world, elected to put an elite unit under UN command.<ref name=BATKW1>{{cite web|last=Bud|first=Guy|title=Belgians and the Korean War|url=http://www.belgiansandthekoreanwar.co.uk/index.htm|accessdate=24 November 2012}}</ref> Since the Belgian constitution forbade sending anyone but volunteers on overseas deployments in peacetime, it was not possible to send an existing battalion, so the [[Belgian United Nations Command]] (known as BUNC) was created. BUNC also incorporated a platoon of volunteer from Luxembourg. BUNC soldiers wore Brown Berets with a new cap badge to distinguish them from other Belgian units.
   
 
BUNC fought in several of the key engagements of the Korean War from 1951, including the [[Battle of the Imjin River]], the [[Battle of Haktang-ni]] and the [[Battle of Chatkol]]. BUNC won [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)]] and [[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation|Presidential Unit Citation (Republic of Korea)]] for its heroism and citations for these battles are included on the Regimental Standard. Of the 3,000 Belgian soldiers who served in Korea, over 100 were killed in action between the battalion's arrival in 1951 and the 1953 armistice.<ref name=BATKW1 /> The last Belgian forces left Korea in 1955.
  
BUNC fought in several of the key engagements of the Korean War from 1951, including the [[Battle of the Imjin River]], the [[Battle of Haktang-ni]] and the [[Battle of Chatkol]]. BUNC won [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)]] and [[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation|Presidential Unit Citation (Republic of Korea)]] for its heroism and citations for these battles are included on the Regimental Standard. Of the 3,000 Belgian soldiers who served in Korea, over 100 were killed in action between the battalion's arrival in 1951 and the 1953 armistice.<ref name=BATKW1 /> The last Belgian forces left Korea in 1955.
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===Somalia===
  
===Somalia===
 
[[File:BelgienSoldatenUNSOSOMII1993.jpg|thumb|Belgian [[United Nations Operation in Somalia II|UNOSOM]] soldiers in Somalia,1993]]
  
[[File:BelgienSoldatenUNSOSOMII1993.jpg|thumb|Belgian [[United Nations Operation in Somalia II|UNOSOM]] soldiers in Somalia,1993]]
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In December 1992, [[1st Parachute Battalion (Belgium)|1st Parachute Battalion]] deployed to [[Somalia]] as part of US-led [[United Nations]] mission [[Operation Restore Hope]]. Their role involved protecting UN aid distribution, as well as searching out militants. The 3rd Parachute Battalion was later also deployed to the country.
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In December 1992, [[1st Parachute Battalion (Belgium)|1st Parachute Battalion]] deployed to Somalia as part of US-led United Nations mission [[Operation Restore Hope]]. Their role involved protecting UN aid distribution, as well as searching out militants. The 3rd Parachute Battalion was later also deployed to the country.
   
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In 1993, two soldiers of the 3rd Parachute Battalion were arrested, after a photo apparently showing two soldiers holding a Somali boy above a fire appeared in Belgian newspapers.<ref name=Econ>{{cite news|title=Good intentions turned to shame|url=http://www.economist.com/node/150966|accessdate=24 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=Jul 3rd 1997}}</ref> Two soldiers were put on trial in Belgium, but both were acquitted by a military tribunal through lack of evidence.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ammerlaan|first=Nieck|title=Belgian soldiers acquitted in Somalia trial|url=http://www.mosquitonet.com/~prewett/belgiansoldiersacquit.html|accessdate=24 November 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=June 30, 1997}}</ref>
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In 1993, two soldiers of the 3rd Parachute Battalion were arrested, after a photo apparently showing two soldiers holding a Somali boy above a fire appeared in Belgian newspapers.<ref name=Econ>{{cite news|title=Good intentions turned to shame|url=http://www.economist.com/node/150966|accessdate=24 November 2012|newspaper=The Economist|date=Jul 3rd 1997}}</ref> Two soldiers were put on trial in Belgium, but both were acquitted by a military tribunal through lack of evidence.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ammerlaan|first=Nieck|title=Belgian soldiers acquitted in Somalia trial|url=http://www.mosquitonet.com/~prewett/belgiansoldiersacquit.html|accessdate=24 November 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=June 30, 1997}}</ref>
   
 
===Lebanon===
  
===Lebanon===
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{{Belgian Paracommando Units}}
  
{{Belgian Paracommando Units}}
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{{Wikipedia|3rd Parachute Battalion (Belgium)}}
   
 
[[Category:Military units and formations of Belgium]]
  
[[Category:Military units and formations of Belgium]]
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[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1950]]
  
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1950]]
 
[[Category:1950 establishments in Belgium]]
  
[[Category:1950 establishments in Belgium]]
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{{Wikipedia|3rd Parachute Battalion (Belgium)}}
  

Revision as of 17:58, 14 December 2019

Belgian United Nations Command (1950-1955)
3rd Paracommando Battalion (1955-1959)
3rd Parachute Battalion (1959-)
Para beix.jpg
Soldiers from the 3rd Parachute Battalion parade in Kortrijk, 1971.
Active 1950-
Country  Belgium
 Luxembourg (1950-1953)
Branch Land Component
Type

Special Operations Force

Airborne light infantry
Role

Direct action Air Assault

Amphibious warfare
Part of Paracommando Brigade
Garrison/HQ Tielen
Motto(s) "Belgium"
Engagements Korean War
Congo Crisis
Lebanon
War in Afghanistan
Insignia
Parachute Qualification Brevet Brevet Para be.jpg
Commando Qualification Brevet Brevet Cdo be.jpg

The 3rd Parachute Battalion (French language: 3ème Bataillon Parachutiste, Dutch language: 3 Bataljon Parachutisten ) is a military formation of the Belgian Army and part of the Paracommando Regiment It caries on the regimental traditions of the Belgian Korean War volunteers.

Corps of Volunteers for Korea

Main article: Belgian United Nations Command

After the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the United Nations asked the Belgian government for military assistance. Belgium, conscious of the vast cost and logistical difficulties of sending large numbers of men or equipment across the world, elected to put an elite unit under UN command.[1] Since the Belgian constitution forbade sending anyone but volunteers on overseas deployments in peacetime, it was not possible to send an existing battalion, so the Belgian United Nations Command (known as BUNC) was created. BUNC also incorporated a platoon of volunteer from Luxembourg. BUNC soldiers wore Brown Berets with a new cap badge to distinguish them from other Belgian units.

BUNC fought in several of the key engagements of the Korean War from 1951, including the Battle of the Imjin River, the Battle of Haktang-ni and the Battle of Chatkol. BUNC won Presidential Unit Citation (United States) and Presidential Unit Citation (Republic of Korea) for its heroism and citations for these battles are included on the Regimental Standard. Of the 3,000 Belgian soldiers who served in Korea, over 100 were killed in action between the battalion's arrival in 1951 and the 1953 armistice.[1] The last Belgian forces left Korea in 1955.

Major Operations

Congo

Afghanistan

Peacekeeping

Somalia

Belgian UNOSOM soldiers in Somalia,1993

In December 1992, 1st Parachute Battalion deployed to Somalia as part of US-led United Nations mission Operation Restore Hope. Their role involved protecting UN aid distribution, as well as searching out militants. The 3rd Parachute Battalion was later also deployed to the country.

In 1993, two soldiers of the 3rd Parachute Battalion were arrested, after a photo apparently showing two soldiers holding a Somali boy above a fire appeared in Belgian newspapers.[2] Two soldiers were put on trial in Belgium, but both were acquitted by a military tribunal through lack of evidence.[3]

Lebanon

See also

  • King Philippe, a member of the battalion in 1983.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bud, Guy. "Belgians and the Korean War". http://www.belgiansandthekoreanwar.co.uk/index.htm. Retrieved 24 November 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Good intentions turned to shame". Jul 3rd 1997. http://www.economist.com/node/150966. Retrieved 24 November 2012. 
  3. ↑ Ammerlaan, Nieck (June 30, 1997). "Belgian soldiers acquitted in Somalia trial". http://www.mosquitonet.com/~prewett/belgiansoldiersacquit.html. Retrieved 24 November 2012. 

External links

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