At the age of 18, Borella volunteered to serve in the French Far East Expeditionary Corps in Indochina.

He saw action at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and became one of the youngest recipients of the Médaille militaire.

The Khmer Rouge were keen to take the airport intact and so negotiated safe passage for Borella and his men.

The men of 1 BPC disappeared into the countryside, while Borella found refuge at the French Embassy.

After returning from Cambodia, Borella travelled to Lebanon where he joined the ranks of the Phalanges fighting in the Lebanese Civil War.