Raffalli earned his parachute badge in September 1949. After a short tour with the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion 3ème BEP and 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1et BEP, he took command of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion 2èmeBEP on 12 September 1950 in Hanoi, Vietnam. He was promoted to Chef d'Escadrons on 1 July 1951 and led the battalion during the Battle of Nghia Lo in October 1951. He was fatally wounded on 1 September 1952 while leading his battalion; he died on 10 September 1952 in Saigon.
