- SURNAME
Ortiz
- FORENAME
Peter Julien
- UNIT
U.S.M.C. OSS Mission Union II
- RANK
Major
- NUMBER
0-12779
- AWARD
Navy Cross (x 2), Legion of Merit with combat V, Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur (Fr), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (GB)
- PLACE
France 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 5.7.1913 New York, New York
educated University of Grenoble
French Foreign Legion 1932-37 (WIA) (Sgt)
awards Croix de Guerre avec 2 palmes,1gold star,1silver star, Croix des Combattants, Ouissam Alouite, Medaille Militaire
French Foreign Legion October 1939
commissioned May 1940
WIA and POW 1940
escaped October 1941
enlisted U.S.M.C. 22.6.1942 (Private)
commissioned 1.8.1942 (23rd Marine Regiment)
Assistant Naval Attache, Tangier, Morocco
WIA during raid
OSS May 1943
POW August 1944-1945
retired as Colonel March 1955
award of M.B.E (GB) 25.8.1944
film actor (small parts)
husband of Jean Ortiz (1 son)
died 16.5.1988
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia
CITATION:
Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Pierre (Peter) J. Ortiz (MCSN: 0-12779), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while attached to the United States Naval Command, Office of Strategic Services, London, England, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in enemy-occupied territory, from 8 January to 20 May 1944. Operating in civilian clothes and aware that he would be subject to execution in the event of his capture, Major Ortiz parachuted from an airplane with two other officers of an Inter-Allied mission to reorganize existing Marquis groups in the region of Rhone. By his tact, resourcefulness and leadership, he was largely instrumental in affecting the acceptance of the mission by local resistance leaders, and also in organizing parachute operations for the delivery of arms, ammunition and equipment for use by the Marquis in his region. Although his identity had become known to the Gestapo with the resultant increase in personal hazard, he voluntarily conducted to the Spanish border four Royal Air Force officers who had been shot down in his region, and later returned to resume his duties. Repeatedly leading successful raids during the period of this assignment, Major Ortiz inflicted heavy casualties on enemy forces greatly superior in number, with small losses to his own forces. By his heroic leadership and astuteness in planning and executing these hazardous forays, Major Ortiz served as an inspiration to his subordinates and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Navy Cross (Gold Star) : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Major Pierre (Peter) J. Ortiz (MCSN: 0-12779), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Office of Strategic Services during operations behind enemy Axis lines in the Savoie Department of France, from 1 August 1944, to 27 April 1945. After parachuting into a region where his activities had made him an object of intensive search by the Gestapo, Major Ortiz valiantly continued his work in coordinating and leading resistance groups in that section. When he and his team were attacked and surrounded during a special mission designed to immobilize enemy reinforcements stationed in that area, he disregarded the possibility of escape and, in an effort to spare villagers severe reprisals by the Gestapo, surrendered to this sadistic Geheim Staats Polizei. Subsequently imprisoned and subjected to numerous interrogations, he divulged nothing, and the story of this intrepid Marine Major and his team became a brilliant legend in that section of France where acts of bravery were considered commonplace. By his outstanding loyalty and self-sacrificing devotion to duty, Major Ortiz contributed materially to the success of operations against a relentless enemy, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Navy Cross (Gold Star) : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Major Pierre (Peter) J. Ortiz (MCSN: 0-12779), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Office of Strategic Services during operations behind enemy Axis lines in the Savoie Department of France, from 1 August 1944, to 27 April 1945. After parachuting into a region where his activities had made him an object of intensive search by the Gestapo, Major Ortiz valiantly continued his work in coordinating and leading resistance groups in that section. When he and his team were attacked and surrounded during a special mission designed to immobilize enemy reinforcements stationed in that area, he disregarded the possibility of escape and, in an effort to spare villagers severe reprisals by the Gestapo, surrendered to this sadistic Geheim Staats Polizei. Subsequently imprisoned and subjected to numerous interrogations, he divulged nothing, and the story of this intrepid Marine Major and his team became a brilliant legend in that section of France where acts of bravery were considered commonplace. By his outstanding loyalty and self-sacrificing devotion to duty, Major Ortiz contributed materially to the success of operations against a relentless enemy, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
WEB LINKS:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9788092https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7488853 (OBE)
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/8531
NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7488853
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