Death in Lebanon at 21: the army’s moving tribute to master corporal Florian Gillet, hero of the 8th RPIMa of Castres

“Chief Corporal Florian Gillet, you belong to the history of the 8th RPIMa. Because you were one of its own, because you became one of its heroes who died for France. The regiment will not forget you.” It is with these words that Army General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the Army (CEMAT), paid a moving national tribute to Master Corporal Florian Gillet within the “8”. This young soldier from the Castres regiment died in Lebanon at the age of 21 on June 10, hit by an accidental shot while preparing for training. This parachutist porpoise was deployed as part of an operational partnership mission for the benefit of the Lebanese armed forces.

“Everyone saw you as a promising young soldier.”

Facing his coffin placed in the middle of the parade ground in the Fayolle district, surrounded by all his comrades from the regiment, and in front of his family, his loved ones and all the civil authorities of the department, the general honored this young volunteer, engaged since October 1, 2023, who left too early during his first external operation. “You accepted the demands of this profession, its servitudes and its risks, in exchange for an ideal of surpassing yourself, of adventure and camaraderie, indicated the CEMAT, describing a “calm, diligent, invested” soldier. Your leaders spoke of an enduring young man, pleasant to command, over whom everyone could Everyone saw you as a promising young soldier and imagined a fulfilling future for you.”

To his family, he sent “the compassion and support of the entire Army”. “Words cannot ease their pain. However, we want to tell them how much we regret not having been able to watch over his brothers in arms, as he himself watched over his comrades”, indicated the general before the coffin left the regiment through the main gate through a guard of honor of his comrades in rank who accompanied him with the song of the regiment.