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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Ortiz, Pierre (Peter) Julien |
| Date of birth: | August 5th, 1913 (New York/New York, United States)
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| Date of death: |
May 16th, 1988
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| Buried on: |
Arlington National Cemetery |
| Nationality: |
American |
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BIOGRAPHY:
Servicenumber 0-12779.
For his time in the French Foreign Legion, prior to World War Two, he also received the Medaille Coloniale (French).
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NAVY CROSS
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Rank:
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Major
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Unit:
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United States Naval Command, Office of Strategic Services, London, England (OSS)
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Action:
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Citation:
"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 Maquis 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 Maquis 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."
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NAVY CROSS
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Rank:
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Major
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Unit:
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United States Naval Command, Office of Strategic Services, London, England (OSS)
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Action:
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Citation:
"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."
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Details:
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SPOT AWARD, Commander, 12th Fleet: Serial 14928.
Second Navy Cross received as a golden star to be worn on the ribbon of the first Navy Cross.
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PURPLE HEART
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Details:
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Second Purple Heart received as a golden star for on the ribbon of the first Purple Heart.
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