I was watching the John Wayne movie Rio Grande the other day and looking up information on some of the actors through imdb.com, when I came across the rather brief bio of Peter Ortiz, who played Captain St. Jacques (the one with the eye patch.)  It said that he served in the French Foreign Legion, the U.S. Marine Corps and the OSS.  Intrigued, I did a little further research and found the story of an incredible man who received the Croix de Guerre five times, the Navy Cross twice, the Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two Purple Hearts and was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the French and a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division.)

A couple of bios of Colonel Ortiz can be found here:

www.militarymuseum.org/Ortiz.html

www.arlingtoncemetery.net/pjortiz.htm

An excerpt from the January 1991 issue of Leatherneck Magazine about Ortiz' time with the OSS working with the Maquis:

In the course of his duties he began frequenting a nightclub in Lyons that catered to German officers. This enabled Ortiz to gain much information regarding German activities in the area, which he turned to good use against the Germans.  This Marine had worn his Marine uniform when leading Maquis groups in raids. To have an Allied officer leading them bolstered their morale immensely, especially when the uniform bore such impressive decorations. One night, while Ortiz sat with the German officers at the club in Lyons, an enemy soldier damned President Franklin Roosevelt. He then damned the United States of America. And then, for whatever reason, he damned the United States Marine Corps (Ortiz later wrote that he "could not, for the life of me, figure why a German officer would so dislike American Marines when, chances were, he'd never met one.") Perhaps Ortiz was bored. He excused himself from the table and returned to his apartment where....changed into the uniform of a U.S. Marine....he then shrugged into a raincoat and returned to the club....he ordered a round of drinks ... refreshments were served....  he removed his raincoat and stood brandishing his pistol. "A toast, he said, beaming, respendent in full greens and decorations, "to the President of the United States!" As the pistol moved from German officer to German officer, they emptied their glasses. He ordered another round of drinks and then offered a toast to the United States Marine Corps! After the Germans had drained their glasses, the Marine backed out, pistol levelled at his astonished hosts. He disappeared into the rainy, black night.

A real Man.....to the Core Hard Corps

holy shit

All I can say is "Larger Than Life"......

now why can't Hollyweird make a movie about this guy...

Quoted: now why can't Hollyweird make a movie about this guy...

They did.  The movies 13 Rue Madeleine and Operation Secret are both based on his exploits.

in honor of the heritage apparent from his surname:

El Cajones GRANDE!!!!!!!!

His son carried on the family tradition, retiring from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Quoted: Quoted: now why can't Hollyweird make a movie about this guy... They did.  The movies 13 Rue Madeleine and Operation Secret are both based on his exploits.

13 Rue madeline??? breat movie but I don't remember anything similar to Ortiz other than the OSS connection... I will have to find the other one  = Operation Secret

Quoted: In the course of his duties he began frequenting a nightclub in Lyons that catered to German officers. This enabled Ortiz to gain much information regarding German activities in the area, which he turned to good use against the Germans.  This Marine had worn his Marine uniform when leading Maquis groups in raids. To have an Allied officer leading them bolstered their morale immensely, especially when the uniform bore such impressive decorations. One night, while Ortiz sat with the German officers at the club in Lyons, an enemy soldier damned President Franklin Roosevelt. He then damned the United States of America. And then, for whatever reason, he damned the United States Marine Corps (Ortiz later wrote that he "could not, for the life of me, figure why a German officer would so dislike American Marines when, chances were, he'd never met one.") Perhaps Ortiz was bored. He excused himself from the table and returned to his apartment where....changed into the uniform of a U.S. Marine....he then shrugged into a raincoat and returned to the club....he ordered a round of drinks ... refreshments were served....  he removed his raincoat and stood brandishing his pistol. "A toast, he said, beaming, respendent in full greens and decorations, "to the President of the United States!" As the pistol moved from German officer to German officer, they emptied their glasses. He ordered another round of drinks and then offered a toast to the United States Marine Corps! After the Germans had drained their glasses, the Marine backed out, pistol levelled at his astonished hosts. He disappeared into the rainy, black night.

heeheehee of such antics, legends are born!

That guy was equipped with solid brass.

tag for home

Cripes! It's the orginal Rambo and Bond rolled into one neat package.

An awesome lifetime of achievements and a MUST READ for anyone even remotely interested in the US MARINE CORPS or the US MILITARY.!!!

EXCELLENT!!

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: now why can't Hollyweird make a movie about this guy... They did.  The movies 13 Rue Madeleine and Operation Secret are both based on his exploits. 13 Rue madeline??? breat movie but I don't remember anything similar to Ortiz other than the OSS connection... I will have to find the other one  = Operation Secret

That's according to imdb.com and a couple of other sources.  I'm sure it was "inspired by actual events" and not a direct retelling of his story.