The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler, GA, has announced that its monthly Mighty Talk series will continue Tuesday, November 3, with co-author Kaitlin Sanders discussing Ortiz’s War, a book about Peter J. Ortiz, a U.S. Marine and Office of Strategic Services (OSS) operative who conducted special operations in occupied France during WWII. The program begins at 11 a.m. and is free to the public, but registration is required.
Ortiz’s War tells the story of Ortiz, a French Foreign Legionnaire and one of the most decorated Marines of WWII. His combat experience and language skills led to his recruitment for special operations behind enemy lines, where he worked with the French Resistance against German forces. During his missions in occupied France, Ortiz parachuted into enemy territory, trained and armed Resistance fighters, gathered intelligence and helped downed Allied airmen. His operations also involved clandestine missions against German forces. The book recounts his daring escapes and the difficult decisions he faced, including his decision to surrender rather than risk the destruction of a French village.
Sanders co-authored the book with historian Nicholas Reynolds. An award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of experience, she has written for publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, The Washington Post Magazine, Smithsonian, TIME, Vanity Fair and Glamour. Her reporting often explores stories of courage and resistance, particularly those connected to WWII and the Holocaust. The subject also has a personal connection to Sanders. In 1944, Ortiz rescued her grandfather and others from the Nazis in France. Researching the story took Sanders into the archives of the CIA and into the homes and reunions of WWII veterans and Holocaust survivors. Ortiz’s War is her first book, and she is also participating in the Jewish Book Council’s 2026–2027 author network and tour program.
The Mighty Talk will take place at the museum on November 3 at 11 a.m. Admission to the program is free, but advance registration is required through the online registration form. Click HERE to register. For more information and to support the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, click on this link: www.mightyeighth.org.
