Sometimes NS comes in the form of an Adventurer’s spirit — a spirit nonetheless of a character that is all American even though its course of action follows a “special course of “Force.”
Marines have always considered themselves elite and a special force. During World War II that no-surrender character was embodied well in a young Californian who had a very adventurous spirit at an early age.
Col. Peter J. Ortiz, USMC
The United State Marines and The Office of Strategic Services
There are numerous detailed accounts of the background and exploits of Ortiz in various publications; I will list those of which I am aware at the end of this article. He had been born in New York City and educated in France where he left school before graduation to join the Legion. He was said to be the youngest sergeant in the history of the French Foreign Legion. He was wounded in action between the Legion and Germans in 1940, then imprisoned in a concentration camp in Austria.
After escaping, making his way to the U.S. and joining the Marine Corps in June 1942, he was commissioned in August 1942, commissioned a captain in the Marine Corps Reseve in December 1942, and assigned to North Africa as an assistant naval attache where he organized a patrol of Arab tribesmen to scout German forces on the Tunisian front. He was asigned to the OSS after recovering from wounds suffered in Tunisia.
Captain Ortiz had reported back to HQMC in April of 1943, and the following month joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a secretive organization and predecessor to the CIA. He was a graduate of both the Legion’s and Marine Corps’ parachute schools. Having lived in France he was fluent in that language; he also spoke nine other languages and was fluent in five. He parachuted into France on January 6, 1944, assigned to help organize and lead elements of the French underground forces known as the “Marquis.”
-RWG
The Leatherneck magazine of January 1991, indicates that:
In the course of his duties he began frequenting a nightclub in Lyons that catered to German officers. This enabled Ortiz to gain much information regarding German activities in the area, which he turned to good use against the Germans. This Marine had worn his Marine uniform when leading Marquis groups in raids. To have an Allied officer leading them bolstered their morale immensely, especially when the uniform bore such impressive decorations.
“One night, while Ortiz sat with the German officers at the club in Lyons, an enemy soldier damned President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He then damned the United States of America. And then, for whatever reason, he damned the United States Marine Corps (Ortiz later wrote that he “could not, for the life of me, figure why a German officer would so dislike American Marines when, chances were, he’d never met one.”)
Perhaps Ortiz was bored. Perhaps he… he excused himself from the table and returned to his apartment where… changed into the uniform of a U.S. Marine… he then shrugged into a raincoat and returned to the club… he ordered a round of drinks… refreshments were served… removed his raincoat and stood brandishing his pistol.
“A toast, he said, beaming, resplendent in full greens and decorations, “to the President of the United States!” As the pistol moved from German officer to German officer, they emptied their glasses.
He ordered another round of drinks and then offered a toast to the United States Marine Corps!
After the Germans had drained their glasses, the Marine backed out, pistol levelled at his astonished hosts. He disappeared into the rainy, black night.
…The train approached. The explosive device was detonated… the Marqis opened up… Grenades were tossed. Ortiz waited for the firing to subside, then stood in full view in his Marine Corps uniform and ordered the Marquis to withdraw… leaving 47 Germans dead and many others wounded. Not a Marquis was lost.
His adventures were numerous…”
–Leatherneck, January 1991
After the war, Colonel Ortiz worked with director John Ford, a former member of the OSS himself. Two movies were produced depicting the exploits of Ortiz. They were, “13 Rue Madeleine,” with James Cagney, etc., and “Operation Secret,” with Cornel Wilde, etc.
Ortiz also had small parts in such films as, “The Outcast,” “Wings of Eagles,” and “Rio Grande.” He also played the part of Major Knott in the film, “Retreat Hell,” a movie about the Marines at the Chosin Resevoir in 1950.
Marine Colonel Peter Ortiz was laid to rest at Arlington National cemetery on May 23, 1988. Prior to burial, the procession was led by the Marine Band in full dress, playing hymns – then a Marine rifle company in full dress, with fixed bayonets – six white horses pulling a caisson with the flag draped coffin and the beautiful black riderless horse with the reversed boot.
A Navy commander chaplain conducted a short service.
Representing the U.S. Marine Corps was General Frank Breth, Director of Intelligence; representing France was Colonel Guy Hussenot; representing England was Captain Jeremy Robbins, of the British Royal Marines…
References and Reading List
- “A Different War: Marines In Europe And North Africa,” By LtCol Harry W. Edwards USMC (Ret)
- Leathernck magazine, January 1991
- Marine Corps League, Autumn 1992
- Friends of the Foreign Legion Newsletter, V3, No.2 1988
- Military History magazine, April 1990
- World War II magazine, July 1998
- This Is Your Life (TV show) Nov9, 1949
- Miscellaneous documents, newsclippings, etc. from Historical Section HQMC
- Marines In WW II, The Atlantic, Africa & Europe
The above references were provided by Historical Section HQMC.
It is recommended that interested viewers of this webpage obtain the above documents where much more information is to be found.
-RWG
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE’S A BOOK WROTE ABOUT THIE INCREDIBLE MAN? PLEASE LET ME KNOW I’D LIKE A COPY.DORY
Left by DOROTHY WHITE on July 23rd, 2008