Petty officers Cedric de Pierrepont and Alain Bertoncello joined the French Navy in 2004 and 2011, respectively.
"France has lost two of its sons, we lose two of our brothers," France Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. François Lecointre said.
Bertoncello wanted to join the French Navy after graduating highschool, Jean-Luc, Bertoncello's father, said to RTL.
"What he loved was the esprit de corps … he was doing what he wanted and he always told us not to worry … he was well prepared," Jean-Luc reportedly said. "They did what they had to do. For him it ended badly, for the others, it was a successful mission."
Source: The Guardian