Joel Struthers

I've had quite a few Americans reach out to me asking me questions about the Legion based on the, because I, you know.

I've had quite a few Americans reach out to me asking me questions about the Legion based on the, because I, you know.

I've had quite a few Americans reach out to me asking me questions about the Legion based on the, because I, you know.

Well, how did you even know? So I'll continue. How did you even know what address to write a letter to? I went to the French consulate in Vancouver. Really? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Because this is pre, you know, this is pre-internet kind of stuff. So it was, yeah. It's just not a well-advertised organization. I went to the library.

Well, how did you even know? So I'll continue. How did you even know what address to write a letter to? I went to the French consulate in Vancouver. Really? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Because this is pre, you know, this is pre-internet kind of stuff. So it was, yeah. It's just not a well-advertised organization. I went to the library.

Well, how did you even know? So I'll continue. How did you even know what address to write a letter to? I went to the French consulate in Vancouver. Really? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Because this is pre, you know, this is pre-internet kind of stuff. So it was, yeah. It's just not a well-advertised organization. I went to the library.

I found, you know, there's some old pictures, history books of the rep in Indochina. Because obviously, you know, the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu. That was kind of where the Americans got drawn into the war. And then Algeria. So they wrote me back and I read the book by Simon Murray called Legionnaire, which is kind of the staple book on Legionnaires.

I found, you know, there's some old pictures, history books of the rep in Indochina. Because obviously, you know, the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu. That was kind of where the Americans got drawn into the war. And then Algeria. So they wrote me back and I read the book by Simon Murray called Legionnaire, which is kind of the staple book on Legionnaires.

I found, you know, there's some old pictures, history books of the rep in Indochina. Because obviously, you know, the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu. That was kind of where the Americans got drawn into the war. And then Algeria. So they wrote me back and I read the book by Simon Murray called Legionnaire, which is kind of the staple book on Legionnaires.

And he had served, he was a British gentleman, served in the Franco-Algerian War with the rep. That would have been the late 60s. And I was like, you know what, I'm going. At the time, my dad was flying for an airline called Canada 3000. The jump seat to Dusseldorf, got on a train, went to Strasbourg, and I knocked on the door.

And he had served, he was a British gentleman, served in the Franco-Algerian War with the rep. That would have been the late 60s. And I was like, you know what, I'm going. At the time, my dad was flying for an airline called Canada 3000. The jump seat to Dusseldorf, got on a train, went to Strasbourg, and I knocked on the door.

And he had served, he was a British gentleman, served in the Franco-Algerian War with the rep. That would have been the late 60s. And I was like, you know what, I'm going. At the time, my dad was flying for an airline called Canada 3000. The jump seat to Dusseldorf, got on a train, went to Strasbourg, and I knocked on the door.

No, in that letter, there was a different depot at the time. I think now it's only Paris and the Fort de Nogent. But back in the day, there was... quite a few. Um, and all you needed was a valid passport from any country. Yeah. Any country.

No, in that letter, there was a different depot at the time. I think now it's only Paris and the Fort de Nogent. But back in the day, there was... quite a few. Um, and all you needed was a valid passport from any country. Yeah. Any country.

No, in that letter, there was a different depot at the time. I think now it's only Paris and the Fort de Nogent. But back in the day, there was... quite a few. Um, and all you needed was a valid passport from any country. Yeah. Any country.

So I knock, they take your passport and, uh, they ask you, you know, it's, it's, you know, this is going back a long time, but, uh, um, some basic questions, you know, why you're here, what are you interested in? Why do you want to join the Legion? They look at your passport, take yourself. And then you're kind of held there for, they do a

So I knock, they take your passport and, uh, they ask you, you know, it's, it's, you know, this is going back a long time, but, uh, um, some basic questions, you know, why you're here, what are you interested in? Why do you want to join the Legion? They look at your passport, take yourself. And then you're kind of held there for, they do a

So I knock, they take your passport and, uh, they ask you, you know, it's, it's, you know, this is going back a long time, but, uh, um, some basic questions, you know, why you're here, what are you interested in? Why do you want to join the Legion? They look at your passport, take yourself. And then you're kind of held there for, they do a

a rudimentary medical exam with a doctor within a couple of days. And then they just put you to work sweeping, cleaning toilets, that kind of shit. And then once enough people show up, they put you on a train and you go down to Aubagne, which is just outside of Marseille, Southern France. And that's where the Legion headquarters is, the Premier. And there you're thrown into the recruiting depot.

a rudimentary medical exam with a doctor within a couple of days. And then they just put you to work sweeping, cleaning toilets, that kind of shit. And then once enough people show up, they put you on a train and you go down to Aubagne, which is just outside of Marseille, Southern France. And that's where the Legion headquarters is, the Premier. And there you're thrown into the recruiting depot.