In 1932, at the age of 19, Peter J. Ortiz decided to join the French Foreign Legion and fought in North Africa for 5 years.
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At the outbreak of WW2, he received a battlefield commission within the FFL and was wounded while blowing up a German fuel dump during the Battle of France in 1940. Subsequently, he was captured by the Germans but managed to escape a year later; making his way back to the US.
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Ortiz then joined the Marine Corps in 1942. While at Parris Island, the drill instructors noticed the decorations on recruit Ortiz’s chest. Two weeks after, the Parris Island commander was writing to the commandant of the Marine Corps requesting confirmation of Ortiz’s service in the French Foreign Legion, noting Ortiz was a “unique new recruit” with “knowledge of military matters … far beyond that of a normal recruit” and recommended that Ortiz receive a commission..which happened upon his graduation.
In the same year, he began conducting reconnaissance operations behind enemy lines in Tunisia for the OSS. During a night mission, Ortiz was seriously wounded in the right hand in an encounter with a German armored vehicle, to which he took out with a hand grenade despite the loss of blood.
In 1943, he began conducting secret operations in France for the OSS and him and his small group of skullfuckers, began wreaking havoc behind the German lines.
In one instance, he managed to rescue 4 downed RAF pilots behind enemy lines, by driving them all the way from France to Spain, earning him his first Navy Cross.
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In 1945, Ortiz was once again captured, and once again, he escaped.
Ortiz officially retired as Col. in 1954
During his military career, Col. Ortiz received numerous awards for valor, including multiple Navy Crosses, Purple Hearts, and other medals from 4 separate countries.
Ortiz would eventually be recognized as one of the most decorated Marine and OSS officer during WW2. #hardfuck #ww2 #oss #stayzero