General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (1889-1952); was a French military hero and commander in the First Indochina War.

Having fought in the First World War and Rif War (Second Moroccan War); the aristocratic de Tassigny (nickname: 'Roi Jean') was a hero of the Free French in World War II. Later; he commanded French troops in Indochina during the First Indochina War. He won three major victories at Vinh Yen; Mao Khe and Yen Cu Ha and successfully defended the north of the country against the Viet Minh but his only son; Bernard de Lattre de Tassigny; was killed in action during the war at the Battle for Nam Dinh.

In 1951; illness forced de Lattre de Tassigny to return to Paris where he later died of cancer; he was posthumously made Marechal de France.