based on his World War II exploits. Ortiz had no control over the script of the film, in which he was portrayed by Cornel Wilde, and "wasn't too happy with the result." He told columnist Bob Thomas that "they had stipulated that I was to help in the screenplay but never consulted me." Ortiz's acting career floundered during the 1950s, and in 1955 he advertised for work in movie trade publications. Ortiz lived in a small tract house in Tarzana, California with his wife and 19-month-old son. He told Aline Mosby of United Press International that a movie producer had promised to promote his career when he appeared on the radio program This Is Your Life in 1951, but that promised opportunities in film had not materialized and that he had only obtained work as an extra. His ad said that he was "willing and able to do anything". Death Ortiz died of cancer on May 16, 1988, at the age of 74 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Plot: Section 59 Site 1269. He was survived by his wife Jean and their son Peter J. Ortiz Jr. In August 1994, the village of Montgirod, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, renamed its town hall square the "Place du Colonel Peter Ortiz". Military decorations Ortiz was the most highly decorated member of the OSS. His decorations and medals include: United States Navy Cross with gold star Legion of Merit Purple Heart with gold star American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon Parachutist Badge United Kingdom Officer of the Order of the British Empire France Chevalier of the Legion of Honor Médaille militaire Croix de Guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures with bronze and silver stars Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 with two bronze palms and silver star Croix du combattant Médaille des Évadés Médaille Coloniale with the campaign clasp: "MAROC" Médaille des Blesses 1939–1945 Commemorative war medal (France) Morocco Order of Ouissam Alaouite Filmography See also Mustang (military officer) List of United States Marines List of Foreign Legionnaires French Foreign Legion References External links Peter Julien Ortiz, arlingtoncemetery.net, an unofficial website "Herringbone Cloak – GI Dagger: Marines of the OSS" 1913 births 1988 deaths Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Legion of Merit Soldiers of the French Foreign Legion United States Marine Corps colonels Military personnel from New