Ortiz's War

Reviews / Votes

'Ortiz's War reads like a Bond novel--yet it is rooted in declassified OSS records and meticulous research. Reynolds and Sanders deliver a fast-paced, gripping narrative history, humanizing a swashbuckling patriot whose courage, leadership, and self-sacrifice embodied OSS's 'glorious amateurs' and their ideal operative. Captured within its pages are also some of the Marines' unsung exploits in the European Theater, including powerful stories from Jack Risler and Ortiz's other teammates. For readers of World War II special operations history, it is a page-turner and an essential, long-overdue tribute to a true legend.' * PATRICK K. O'DONNELL, director and historian of the OSS Society and bestselling author of The Unvanquished and Revolutionary Snipers * 'Ortiz's War has it all--a fascinating daredevil parachuting into Nazi-occupied France, saving Allied airmen, evading the Gestapo, surviving horrific imprisonment. A tender, beautifully told story that reminds us of Americans at their best.' * ALEX KERSHAW, New York Times bestselling author of The Longest Winter and The Liberator * 'Ortiz's War is the almost unbelievable--but entirely true--story of one of America's most renowned warriors. A much-decorated veteran of the interwar French Foreign Legion, Peter Ortiz became one of the few US Marines to serve in World War II's European Theater. His activities in German-occupied France as a member of the secretive Office of Special Services are the stuff of legend, and his wartime fame helped propel the handsome and multilingual Ortiz into a postwar movie career. Deeply researched and deftly written, Ortiz's War is a rousing tale of courage, tenacity, and true heroism. Highly recommend.' * STEPHEN HARDING, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Battle and G.I. G-Men * 'A gripping account of an American war hero, Ortiz's War takes off where the hit French TV series Un Village Francais left off. A much-needed reminder of what valor looks like. Ortiz inspires.' * MARIE BRENNER, bestselling author and Vanity Fair writer-at-large * 'One of the rare US Marines who served in Europe during World War II, Peter J. Ortiz had a life that reads like a work of fiction. From taming lions to working at a dude ranch to serving in the French Foreign Legion to acting alongside John Wayne, Ortiz lived a thousand adventures. But his exploits during World War II might be the best. Ortiz's War captures a dashing Marine--one of the most decorated of World War II--in extraordinary detail. A riveting, timely tribute to an American hero--the kind of man who answers the call and goes into harm's way without hesitation.' * KEVIN MAURER, New York Times bestselling author of No Easy Day, American Radical, and Damn Lucky *