Gilbert Morand
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Morand was a French
non-commissioned officer
and skier.
in 1948
which placed fifth. He also gained eight French military champion titles, including three indiviual titles.
he joined the Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
. In 1944 he joined the army, where he served at the 24ème Bataillon de chasseurs (ranger battalion) during the campaign against the Germans, and participated in the occupation of Austria
. He also served in the French Indochina War
with the 27ème Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens and the 10ème Bataillon de Parachutistes de Chasseurs à Pied, and in the Algerian War as a mountain reconnaissance platoon leader of the 7eme Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins. After his military retirement in 1962 he worked as a civilian instructor at the École militaire de haute montagne (EMHM), in winters as trainer of the school's Nordic skiing
team and in summers as a high mountain guide. From 1971 to December 15, 1981 he worked as technical adviser for the EMHM.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
and skier.
Sports
Morand was born in the Jura department. In the military rank of a Caporal-chef he was a member of the national Olympic military patrol teamMilitary patrol at the 1948 Winter Olympics
At the 1948 Winter Olympics, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1948, the last military patrol competition was held as a demonstration sport. This was in part to the aftermath of World War II, which decimated Europe. This sport would be superseded by the biathlon competition which debuted at the 1960...
in 1948
1948 Winter Olympics
The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Games were the first to be celebrated after World War II; it had been twelve years since the last Winter Games in 1936...
which placed fifth. He also gained eight French military champion titles, including three indiviual titles.
Military service
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he joined the Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
The Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura were a group of maquis fighters in the French resistance during World War II.On 11 November 1943, the Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura, on orders from Colonel Henri Romans-Petit, took possession of the town of Oyonnax in the Ain departement, and paraded up to the...
. In 1944 he joined the army, where he served at the 24ème Bataillon de chasseurs (ranger battalion) during the campaign against the Germans, and participated in the occupation of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. He also served in the French Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
with the 27ème Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens and the 10ème Bataillon de Parachutistes de Chasseurs à Pied, and in the Algerian War as a mountain reconnaissance platoon leader of the 7eme Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins. After his military retirement in 1962 he worked as a civilian instructor at the École militaire de haute montagne (EMHM), in winters as trainer of the school's Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
team and in summers as a high mountain guide. From 1971 to December 15, 1981 he worked as technical adviser for the EMHM.
Awards
- Chevalier of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, for the service in Algeria - Médaille militaireMédaille militaireThe Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
- Officer of the Ordre national du MériteOrdre National du MériteThe Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
- Officier of the Mérite sportif
- Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieuresCroix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations ExterieuresThe Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieures is a French medal rewarded for military service in foreign countries. It is granted to individuals who have received citations for their actions while engaged in military service overseas.-History:...
- Croix de la Valeur MilitaireCroix de la Valeur MilitaireThe Croix de la Valeur Militaire is a military decoration of France that recognizes individual holding a mention in Dispatches earned in theaters of operations which are not subject to the award of the Croix de guerre....
(7 citations)