Peter Julien Ortiz
Encyclopedia
Colonel Pierre Julien Ortiz OBE (July 5, 1913-May 16, 1988) was one of the most decorated Marine
officers of World War II
. He served in both Africa
and Europe
throughout the war, as a member of the Office of Strategic Services
(OSS).
from a Spanish-American mother and French-American father, Ortiz was educated at the University of Grenoble
in France
. He spoke ten languages
including French, German and Arabic.
On February 1, 1932, at the age of 19, he joined the French Foreign Legion
for five years service in North Africa. He was sent first to the Legion's training camp at Sidi Bel-Abbes, Algeria
. He later served in Morocco
, where he was promoted to corporal in 1933 and sergeant in 1935. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre
twice during a campaign against the Rif
. When his contract expired, he went to Hollywood to serve as a technical adviser for war films.
With the outbreak of World War II
and the United States still neutral, he re-enlisted in the Legion in 1939 as a sergeant. He was wounded in action and imprisoned by the Germans
during the 1940 Battle of France
. He escaped the following year and made his way to the United States.
He joined the Marines
in June 1942. As a result of his training and experience, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after only 40 days. He was promoted to captain in December and, with his knowledge of the region, sent to Tangier
, Morocco. He conducted reconnaissance behind enemy lines in Tunisia for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). During a night mission, Ortiz was seriously wounded in an encounter with a German patrol and was sent back to the United States to recover.
In 1943, Ortiz became a member of the OSS. In January 1944, he was dropped by parachute into the Haute-Savoie
region of German-occupied France as part of the three-man "Union" mission to evaluate the capabilities of the Resistance
in the Alpine region. He drove four downed RAF pilots to the border of neutral Spain before leaving France with his team.
Promoted to major, Ortiz parachuted back into France on August 1, 1944, this time as the commander of the "Union II" mission. He was captured by the Germans on August 16 and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war
. He was the most highly decorated member of the OSS.
In April 1954, he volunteered to return to active duty to serve as a Marine observer in Indochina
. The Marine Corps did not accept his request because "current military policies will not permit the assignment requested."
He rose to the rank of colonel in the Marine Reserve.
, including Rio Grande
, in which he played "Captain St. Jacques". According to his son, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Peter J. Ortiz, Jr., "My father was an awful actor but he had great fun appearing in movies". At least two Hollywood films were based upon his personal exploits, 13 Rue Madeleine
(1947) and Operation Secret (1952).
Ortiz died of cancer on May 16, 1988, at the age of 74, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
. He was survived by his wife Jean and their son Peter J. Ortiz, Jr.
es, the Legion of Merit
, the Order of the British Empire
, and five Croix de Guerre
. He also was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
by the French.
In August 1994, Centron, France held a ceremony in which the town center was renamed "Place Colonel Peter Ortiz".
ORTIZ, PIERRE (PETER) J.
(First Award)
Rank and organization:Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
Place:Office of Strategic Services (London)
Date of Action:January 8–20, 1944
Citation:
ORTIZ, PIERRE (PETER) J.
(Second Award)
Rank and organization:Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
Place:Office of Strategic Services (France)
Date of Action:August 1, 1944 - April 27, 1945
Citation:
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
officers of World War II
World 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 served in both Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
throughout the war, as a member of the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
(OSS).
Military career
Although born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from a Spanish-American mother and French-American father, Ortiz was educated at the University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble or Grenoble University was a university in Grenoble, France until 1970, when it was split into several different institutions:...
in France
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...
. He spoke ten languages
Multilingualism
Multilingualism is the act of using, or promoting the use of, multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. Multilingualism is becoming a social phenomenon governed by the needs of...
including French, German and Arabic.
On February 1, 1932, at the age of 19, he joined the French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
for five years service in North Africa. He was sent first to the Legion's training camp at Sidi Bel-Abbes, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. He later served in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, where he was promoted to corporal in 1933 and sergeant in 1935. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
twice during a campaign against the Rif
Riffian people
The Rifians are a Berber people who inhabit the Rif in northern Morocco. The mother tongue of the Rifians is called Rifian, though many speak Moroccan Arabic, Spanish or French as second or third languages.-Physical anthropology:...
. When his contract expired, he went to Hollywood to serve as a technical adviser for war films.
With the outbreak of World War II
World 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...
and the United States still neutral, he re-enlisted in the Legion in 1939 as a sergeant. He was wounded in action and imprisoned by the Germans
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during the 1940 Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. He escaped the following year and made his way to the United States.
He joined the Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in June 1942. As a result of his training and experience, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after only 40 days. He was promoted to captain in December and, with his knowledge of the region, sent to Tangier
Tangier
Tangier, also Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 . It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel...
, Morocco. He conducted reconnaissance behind enemy lines in Tunisia for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). During a night mission, Ortiz was seriously wounded in an encounter with a German patrol and was sent back to the United States to recover.
In 1943, Ortiz became a member of the OSS. In January 1944, he was dropped by parachute into the Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
region of German-occupied France as part of the three-man "Union" mission to evaluate the capabilities of the Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
in the Alpine region. He drove four downed RAF pilots to the border of neutral Spain before leaving France with his team.
Promoted to major, Ortiz parachuted back into France on August 1, 1944, this time as the commander of the "Union II" mission. He was captured by the Germans on August 16 and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. He was the most highly decorated member of the OSS.
In April 1954, he volunteered to return to active duty to serve as a Marine observer in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
. The Marine Corps did not accept his request because "current military policies will not permit the assignment requested."
He rose to the rank of colonel in the Marine Reserve.
Later years
Upon returning to civilian life, Ortiz became an actor. Ortiz appeared in a number of films, several with director John FordJohn Ford
John Ford was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath...
, including Rio Grande
Rio Grande (film)
Rio Grande is a 1950 Western film. It is the third installment of John Ford's "cavalry trilogy," following two RKO Pictures releases: Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon ....
, in which he played "Captain St. Jacques". According to his son, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Peter J. Ortiz, Jr., "My father was an awful actor but he had great fun appearing in movies". At least two Hollywood films were based upon his personal exploits, 13 Rue Madeleine
13 Rue Madeleine
13 Rue Madeleine is a 1947 World War II spy film starring James Cagney, Annabella and Richard Conte.The title refers to the Le Havre address where a Gestapo headquarters is located.-Plot:...
(1947) and Operation Secret (1952).
Ortiz died of cancer on May 16, 1988, at the age of 74, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. He was survived by his wife Jean and their son Peter J. Ortiz, Jr.
Awards and honors
Ortiz's decorations included two Navy CrossNavy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
es, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, and five Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
. He also was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The 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...
by the French.
In August 1994, Centron, France held a ceremony in which the town center was renamed "Place Colonel Peter Ortiz".
Navy Cross citations
See also
- List of famous U.S. Marines
External links
- Peter Julien Ortiz, arlingtoncemetery.net
- The California State Military Museum entry
- Peter Ortiz, Internet Movie Database