Colonel Peter Ortiz, who spoke 5 languages fluently, was a most
decorated Marine officer in World War II. He served in the O.S.S. and,
before that, was the youngest Sergeant in the French Foreign Legion. In
1940, he was wounded and captured by the German invading army, he
escaped and joined the U.S. Marines. Parachuting into France, he became
a Maquis leader in 1944. He frequented a Lyons nightclub to gain
information from the German officers who also frequented the popular
club. One night, a German officer damned President Roosevelt, then the
USA, and finally the Marine Corps. Ortiz then excused himself, went to
his apartment and changed into his Marine Corp uniform. Returning to
the club, he ordered a round then removed his raincoat and stood there
resplendent in full greens and decorations yelling, "A toast to
President Roosevelt!" Pointing his pistol at one German officer then
another, they emptied their glasses as he ordered another round to
toast the USA then Marine Corp! The Germans again drained their glasses
as he backed out leaving his astonished hosts and disappeared into the
night. After the war, Colonel Ortiz worked with director
John Ford, also
a former OSS member.
