Peter J. Ortiz

Colonel Pierre (Peter) 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 North Africa and Europe throughout the war, as a member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), operating behind enemy lines several times. He became a film actor after the war.

Military career

Although born in New York City to a Spanish-American mother and French-American father, Ortiz was educated at the University of Grenoble in France. He spoke ten languages including Spanish, 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. He also received the Médaille militaire. An acting lieutenant, he was offered a commission as a second lieutenant if he would re-enlist. Instead, when his contract expired in 1937, he went to Hollywood to serve as a technical adviser for war films.