Legionnaire, #OSS Officer, US Marine & Hollywood Heartthrob: Peter Ortiz
bit.ly/2sm18Vx
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Peter was born in New York City in 1913, to a father w a strong Spanish background who immigrated from France & an American mother.
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1932: While attending college in France, Peter signed up for a 5-year enlistment in the French Foreign Legion (FFL).
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Peter fought valiantly in Africa, was wounded in 1933.
He came home to US w many medals, including two awards of the Croix de Guerre.
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1939: #WWII started & Peter returned to FFL.
June 1940: became POW during Battle of France when wounded while blowing up a fuel dump.
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Transferred between POW camps, Peter tried to escape on several times.
In Oct 1941, he succeed & fled to US, by way of Portugal.
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June 1942: Peter enlisted in @USMC.
W his FFL experience he quickly went from recruit to assistant training officer @ Parris Island.
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@USMC May 1943: Peter was assigned to the Naval Command of #OSS; one of a small number of @USMC officers who served in OSS during #WWII.
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@USMC JAN 1944: Peter’s inter-allied team parachuted into France.
They were the 1st Allied officers in uniform in France since 1940.
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@USMC AUG 1944: Peter became a POW again. He tried to escape several times & succeeded in April 1945 as his camp was hastily evacuated.
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When #WWII ended, Peter returned to Hollywood, where he worked before war, to be a technical advisor in movie industry & an actor.
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Peter was good friends w #OSS vet & director John Ford.
He played minor roles in several John Wayne films.
1.usa.gov/1K5yOaA
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Peter continued to serve his country in the @MarForRes until 1955 when the highly-decorated Marine was promoted to colonel & retired.
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@MarForRes Awards received:
2 Navy Crosses
Legion of Merit
2 Purple Hearts
Order of British Empire
French Legion of Honor
5 Croix de Guerre
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@MarForRes Peter Ortiz–one of the most decorated #OSS & @USMC officers of #WWII–died in 1988 & is buried @ArlingtonNatl
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