Outrageous True Military Stories. Which is your favorite?

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:21:47 -0500

Sometimes true stories that inspire movies are better than the fiction.

Which Service has the best outrageous (true) hero stories? Back it up with a credible link or citation.

Approximately 80 officers and 200 enlisted men from the Marine Corps served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. In that group was one of the most decorated Marines in World War II and the most decorated member of the OSS, Col. Pierre “Peter” Julien Ortiz, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, whose military career actually began in the French Foreign Legion.
http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/the-incredible-saga-of-col-peter-j-ortiz/

The Incredible Saga of OSS Col. Peter J. Ortiz in World War II | Defense Media Network

Article about Marine Col. Peter J. Ortiz's adventures in the OSS during World War II.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 4 at 2014 2:25 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:25:28 -0500

I meant for this to be a poll, but forgot to make it one before I posted it (and apparently cant add one or delete this to make a new one) so make sure you announce the service at the beginning of your answer.

Also I am aware that the film Inglorious Basterds is not based on the exploits of Col. Pierre “Peter” Julien Ortiz, but I thought people would be more drawn in by reference to it than to 13 Rue Madeline (1947) starring James Cagney, or Operation Secret (1952) starring Cornel Wilde.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 4 at 2014 2:57 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:57:16 -0500

Capt Richard I P., here's my outrageous true military story, which is my favorite because I actually got to meet the man!
In late 1944 and early 1945, COL Aaron Bank, U.S. Army (of OSS/Jedburgh Team fame and Father of Special Forces), led "Operation Iron Cross," which evolved into a plan to capture or kill Adolf Hitler. The OSS actively recruited German POWs who were opposed to Hitler to form a special forces unit, outfitted with SS uniforms and highly trained in "raid and snatch" techniques. This unit was trained as parachute infantry and was intended for insertion into the expected "Alpine Redoubt" on the Austrian/German border, where senior Nazi officials were planning to make their last stand against the advancing Allied armies. Hitler was expected to flee from Berlin and retire to the Alpine Redoubt before the Soviets could enter the capital city, so General William Joseph Donovan, head of the OSS, issued this order: "Tell Bank to get Hitler."
"Iron Cross" was canceled almost on the eve of execution because intelligence showed that Hitler had remained in Berlin. (This info is extracted from a Wikipedia article.)
In June, 1993, the Special Forces Association held their annual convention in Nashville, TN. COL Bank was there as a special guest and also to promote his new book, "Knight's Cross", which was a novel he co-wrote that utilized Operation Iron Cross as the basis of the story . He was 90 years old at the time. I was fortunate enough to meet COL Bank and still have an inscribed copy of his book!

1LT L S and 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 3:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 15:14:45 -0500

I don't know if it's my favorite, but I love watching Pentagon Wars, is about the development of the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 4:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:51:04 -0500

Not really a story about an individual, but a unit. The Texas Army National Guard 36th Infantry Division was the first American unit to step onto mainland Europe during WW II as a part of Operation Avalanche.

http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/salerno/salerno.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN7qIy84gR4

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2014 2:16 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 02:16:06 -0500

I just read Col Ortiz's story. That was surreal. A true boyhood adventurer...that never really stopped. Its amazing, some might say he was in the right place at the right time. ..his story is unrepeatable.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Dec 10 at 2014 2:31 AM

CMC Robert Young — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 02:31:12 -0500

In the weeks after D-Day, American forces were fighting in the French port city of Cherbourg. LCDR Quentin Walsh, USCGR, led a 53 man assault team which battled the German garrison in house to house fighting taking 400 prisoners from the city's naval arsenal.

Then despite being badly outnumbered, Walsh made his way to FT Du Homet where he told the German commander that he was there on behalf of the Allies to accept the honorable surrender of German troops since further fighting was pointless. The German commander believing that he was surrounded and in imminent danger of being overrun surrendered 350 more troops and released more than 50 Allied paratroopers who had been captured during D-Day.

In total, Walsh's force of 53 captured more than 700 Germans, liberated more than 50 Americans, and reduced the city's inner arsenal.

For his efforts, Walsh was awarded the Navy Cross.

Response by LCpl Brandon Barnes made Jan 6 at 2015 1:09 AM

LCpl Brandon Barnes — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 01:09:21 -0500

Dan Daly's whole career. The guy was a real life superhero. No links, on my phone. Look him up though.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2015 11:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 23:48:14 -0500

A toss up between Band of Brothers and We Were Soldiers. Read the books as well...

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Feb 6 at 2015 12:34 AM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:34:40 -0500

I couldn't remember the facts so I had to go find the book and copy the description from Amazon but these guys were pretty bad ass. When they were picked up in the morning there were only a handful that could get in the bird and they had something like 8 total rounds left amongst them. It is believed that they faced a VC Regiment. And if you are interested in the entire story the book is Hill 488.

On June 13, 1966, men of the 1st Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Division were stationed on Hill 488. Before the week was over, they would fight the battle that would make them the most highly decorated small unit in the entire history of the U.S. military, winning a Congressional Medal of Honor, four Navy Crosses, thirteen Silver Stars, and eighteen Purple Hearts -- some of them posthumously.

During the early evening of June 15, a battalion of hardened North Vietnamese regulars and Viet Cong -- outnumbering the Americans 25-to-1 -- threw everything they had at the sixteen Marines and two Navy corpsmen for the rest of that terror-filled night. Every man who held the hill was either killed or wounded defending the ground with unbelievable courage and unflagging determination -- even as reinforcements were on the way.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 8 at 2021 2:59 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 14:59:04 -0400

I know more than the generals.

Response by LTC David Brown made Jul 8 at 2021 7:44 PM

LTC David Brown — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 19:44:09 -0400

The crazy British officer who carried a sword, bagpipe and long bow into battle. The last English soldier to kill with a long bow.