The Phantom: The Untold Story of the American Marine the Nazis Could Not Kill

by Bob Drury, Tom Clavin

Soldier, spy, scout, saboteur, and French Resistance leader in the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe--the untold story of Marine legend Pete Ortiz.

Major Pierre “Pete” Ortiz was a Manhattan-born and Paris-educated polymath fluent in five languages. An adventuresome French Foreign Legion veteran specifically recruited by "Wild" Bill Donovan’s Office of Strategic Services (the precursor to both the CIA and U.S. Special Forces) upon his enlistment in the Marines, Ortiz was the officer “Wild Bill” instinctively knew he needed and could rely on to complete a string of clandestine missions.

While recuperating from gunshot wounds received during a behind-the-lines excursion into enemy-held North Africa, Ortiz delivered his After-Action Report directly to Donovan in Washington. After reading it, “Wild Bill” scrawled across the top of the “Please re-employ this man as soon as possible.” Ortiz’s handlers heeded Donovan’s request. Within a year Ortiz was surreptitiously parachuted into the Haute Savoie region of Occupied France, where he made contact with the resistance fighters who called themselves Maquisards.

By the time he retired as a United States Marine Corps colonel, he received two Navy Crosses for extraordinary heroism in World War II. He was one of the very few U.S. Marines to serve in combat in Europe during World War II, and one of the most decorated Marine officers of the war.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction, Biography, World War II

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 6, 2026

Reviews

[Brendan (History Nerds United)]

The reason there are so many World War II books is that there is still so much to be mined from the conflict. Case in point, I had never heard of Major Pierre "Pete" Ortiz until about 3 months ago, and now I have read the second book on him in the last 60 days. This is The Phantom by personal favorites Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. As expected, I had a great time.

Pete Ortiz seems pulled from a fictional World War II movie epic. Rich kid who eschewed the easy life and joined the French Foreign Legion. Tried out civilian life and found he didn't quite fit in. World War II sees him join the marines, but then shift over to the nascent OSS. It was a perfect fit as Ortiz just loved to get things done and the multitude of languages he spoke didn't hurt, either.

Drury and Clavin are the types of authors who need to give background and backstory. As such, a good portion of this book is not about Ortiz as they tell the war story of OSS founder Wild Bill Donovan and a few other characters. It does feel like Ortiz gets a little lost in the wider story at times, but every other chapter is dedicated entirely to him. And let's just say the guy is worth the wait. If you want a fast-paced World War II story about a man you probably hadn't heard of before, this is a solid one to pick up.

(This book was provided as a review copy by St. Martin's Press.)

[William de_Rham]

“The Phantom” by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin is wide-ranging history and biography about U.S. Marine Major Pierre “Pete” Ortiz and OSS operations with the French Underground during WWII.

Nicknamed “Das Fantom” by the Gestapo, Ortiz himself is fascinating. An adventuresome polyglot related by marriage to the DuPont family, by 1941 his resume included stints as a chauffeur for a New York bootlegger, a lion tamer, a riding instructor, a merchant marine seaman (and the lone survivor of a German torpedoing), and eight years of service as a paratrooper in the French Foreign Legion, where he saw action against Berbers in North Africa and the Nazis in Europe. Highly decorated, he was also thrice wounded (twice during military service and once in a duel with a Fascist Italian duke he cuckolded.)

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor—frustrated by the U.S. Army’s delay in commissioning him and finding him a suitable combat assignment—Ortiz enlisted as a “boot” in the Marines. Quickly completing its jump school and earning his commission, he came to the attention of spy chief William Donovan and was seconded to the OSS. Twice he parachuted into Nazi held France—once before D-Day and once after—to equip and train elements of the French Underground or “Maquis” and help lead them in combat operations.

But “The Phantom” is not just about Pete Ortiz. Drury and Clavin have carefully researched and described a variety of topics important to the story of clandestine/underground operations in the European theater, including:

Biographical information on “Wild Bill” Donovan, founder of the OSS, the forerunner of the CIA and U.S. Special Forces;

The roles of British intelligence officers Ian Fleming and William Stephenson in helping Donovan develop the OSS;

Bureaucratic and military opposition to the OSS in Washington;

Bios of other U.S. Marines and famous persons serving in the OSS; including most notably actor Sterling Hayden (of “Dr. Strangelove” and “The Godfather” fame) and director John Ford;

The involvement of various politicians and generals, including FDR, Churchill, Generals George Marshal and Dwight Eisenhower, Vichy France leaders Marshal Petain and Pierre Laval, French General Charles DeGaulle, various members of the French Resistance, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and others;

German war plans and operations, including Nazi brutality towards French citizenry as retribution for resistance activities; and

Detailed descriptions of the operations in which Ortiz was involved, his capture by the Germans, and his various attempts to escape.

In sum, authors Drury and Clavin have produced a well-told, comprehensive story suitable for readers interested in WWII in Europe, the birth and operations of the OSS, Allied espionage against the Nazis, and particularly the composition and operations of the French Resistance and the crucial role "The Maquis" played vis-à-vis the D-Day invasion and subsequent liberation of France.

The Phantom” is scheduled to be published on October 6, 2026.

My thanks to NetGalley, authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

[Casey]

This book is about the one of the few Marines who served in Europe instead of the Pacific. Pete Ortiz was captured multiple times by the Nazis and managed to escape. The first third of the book lays the background of the development of the OSS and not so much about Ortiz. The rest of the book details how he worked with the French freedom fighters to disrupt the Nazis plan of total conquest. As with other books by the two others, this one reads more like a novel than a historical recitation.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

[sniksnak]

After drawing his pistols on German officers who had been insulting Roosevelt and the Marine Corps, Ortiz stated:
“A toast to the president of the United States. A toast to the Marine Corps.”

An inspiring true account of Major Pierre “Pete” Ortiz, a remarkable WWII hero. Born in Manhattan, educated in Paris, and multilingual, Ortiz was a French Foreign Legion veteran. Recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (forerunner of the CIA), he became a soldier, spy, and leader among French Resistance fighters in Nazi occupied Europe.
The book details his clandestine missions, including operations in North Africa and the Haute Savoie region of France with the Maquisards. Ortiz was one of the few US Marines to see combat in Europe and was highly decorated, earning two Purple Hearts and two Navy Crosses.
This vivid portrait celebrates Ortiz’s courage and ingenuity, highlighting his role in tipping the scales in occupied Europe. A must read for WWII history and special operations enthusiasts.

**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#ARC
#NetGalley
#ThePhantom

[Brannigan]

The Phantom: The Untold Story of the American Marine the Nazis Could Not Kill by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin is an engaging account of the remarkable life of Pete Ortiz, whose adventures before and during World War II almost seem too extraordinary to be true. From his restless teenage years to his time as a merchant marine, member of the French Foreign Legion, U.S. Marine, and eventually one of the early OSS agents working with the French Resistance, Ortiz lived a life unlike almost anyone else.

The depth of research behind the book is evident throughout. Drury and Clavin provide rich detail not only about Ortiz’s experiences but also about the people and events surrounding him. I have read several books about the OSS during World War II, and this easily ranks among my top three. The authors do an excellent job of placing Ortiz’s story within the larger history of the OSS and its developing operations in occupied France.

My only real criticism is the title. The Phantom led me to expect a book focused almost entirely on Pete Ortiz, and while I would estimate that roughly 70 percent of the book follows his story, a significant portion takes us away from Ortiz to explore other agents and the formation and development of the OSS. Those sections are interesting and add considerable historical value, but I would have preferred a title that reflected the book’s broader scope rather than suggesting it was exclusively the story of one man.

That aside, this is an outstanding work of popular history. Students of World War II and the OSS will find plenty to appreciate, while readers who don’t normally gravitate toward history may find themselves quickly drawn into Ortiz’s extraordinary life. It is especially well suited to reluctant readers because the narrative has the momentum of an adventure story while remaining firmly grounded in extensive historical research.

I received a free ebook from the Publisher and NetGalley.com for an honest review.

[ManOfLaBook.com]

For more reviews and bookish posts, and the Margin Notes on Systems-Level Shadow Warfare and the Human Logic Layer, visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com

The Phantom: The Untold Story of the American Marine the Nazis Could Not Kill by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin is the story of Major Pierre "Pete" Ortiz, a World War II hero that makes all of Hollywood action heroes seem tame. Misters Drury and Clavin are both published authors and journalists.

I can't believe that Major Ortiz's name never came up (or I didn't notice) in the World War Il books I've read. Mr. Ortiz was born with action in his blood, he always followed a fight, whether it would be with the French Foreign Legion, the US Marine Corp, or the OSS.

Mr. Ortiz was born in Manhattan and educated in Paris, speaking several languages fluently. Before enlisting in 1942 to the Marines, he served eight years in the French Foreign Legion. By the time he started Marines boot camp, he was already a veteran of wars in Africa, Europe, wounded several times and survived German torpedoes as a merchant marine. His name came across the desk of OSS direct "Wild Bill" Donovan, who immediately requested him to join the agency.

One of the few Marines to operate in Europe before the Allies landed, he made a name for himself earning the nickname "Das Fantom" from the Gestapo. His covert missions included organizing and equipping the French Resistance, sabotage, and rescuing downed pilots. He earned two Navy Crosses for his efforts along with 22 other medals from France, England and the United States, making him the most decorated marine serving as an OSS officer.

The Phantom by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin is not a run of the mill military biography, but an incredible book which goes into the begins of the OSS (with an honorable mention of lan Fleming), and inner workings of bureaucratic fights which such an agency is sure to encounter.

This biography reads as a cross between an espionage thriller and an adventure story. Mr. Ortiz is described as a man of iron, in body and spirit, not afraid to look Death in the eye, until Death blinks.
And, he was a movie star to boot.

[Nick Babbitz]

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Phantom is my first Tom Clavin or Bob Drury book and it definitely won’t be my last. This is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who thinks non fiction books are boring. Clavin and Drury do a fantastic job of telling the story of Pete Ortiz and also the beginning of the OSS during WW2.
The accomplishments of Ortiz and the men he served with are stunning and this book often reads like a fictional war thriller. I learned so much about the guerrilla warfare aspects of WW2 and absolutely loved this book.

[Thomas]

Thanks to Bob Drury, Tom Clavin, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pete Ortiz is a true-life warrior whose escapades behind enemy lines in World War II are legendary and had a big impact on the outcome of the war. In spite of his work in France and Africa, he remains largely unknown to the vast majority of people in the United States, which this book will help rectify.

This book is written by two authors with deep experience writing historical non-fiction and it shows. The detail and quality of the writing shows through to deliver an engaging and interesting story that was lost for many of us. I especially appreciate going behind the scenes to learn how the actions of a small number of men kept tens of thousands of Germans occupied and away from the D-Day beaches, thereby saving countless lives.

[Gregg Hesterman]

This was an excellent book all around! I have read a lot about WWII, but never heard of Marine Pete Ortiz. What an incredible story! I am honestly shocked his story has never been made into a movie. His time in the Legion, then the Marines, and then with the OSS is truly remarkable. My only criticism of the book is the author uses a very extensive vocabulary, which at times caused me to have to pause to look the word up. I am college educated, but there were MANY words that I had never heard of or read before. My wife who is a librarian also did not know the words when I asked her. Don’t let that keep you from picking this book up, though, it is well worth the read!

[Bethany Smith]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an early audiobook edition of “The Phantom” by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, read by George Newbern, in exchange for an honest review. George did a good job narrating the book; as a historical rendition of Pierre Ortiz, it was reading rather than telling a story. George has a soothing, at-ease voice.
The historical facts as portrayed in the book were at the right level of detail, so that you understand who the people were and what led them to their roles during WWII. The escapades of “The Phantom, Pierre “Pete” Ortiz, were well told. I learned some new things about the U.S. involvement, which is why I wanted to read the book, as I feel like we, the people, have not been told how large a part we played prior to entering the war and then after. Caution: the torture portrayed in this book was new to me and more heinous than most other WWII books (not all, but most).

What I did not like is that it reads like a history book. This would have been an excellent subject matter for a historical fiction. I find that I care more about what happens to the characters in a historical fiction, and I can’t wait to see how it ends. I wanted to see how this one ended, but I struggled to pick it up and read it. What should have taken three days took 5 because the games on my phone were more interesting.

That being said, kudos to the author for telling the story. History buffs will probably love it, and if you are looking to read more about the U.S.’s involvement during WWII, this was a good book.

[Scott Nickels]

The Phantom by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin is a fascinating account of a largely overlooked side of World War II: the dangerous and often ingenious work carried out behind enemy lines. I especially enjoyed learning about the individuals who operated in these secret missions and the remarkable successes they achieved despite having limited resources and facing enormous risks. The book does a good job of bringing attention to people whose contributions might otherwise have been lost in the much larger story of the war. The behind-the-lines operations, in particular, provide a different perspective on how the Allies ultimately achieved victory.

That said, I found the book somewhat uneven in places. While the subject matter is compelling, some of the narrative can feel overly detailed, and the story occasionally loses momentum. Still, the historical material and the accounts of courage, resourcefulness, and persistence make The Phantom a worthwhile read, particularly for anyone interested in World War II history beyond the major battles and famous commanders. Overall, I would give it about 3½ to 4 stars out of 5.

[Jeremy Anderberg]

3.5 stars, rounded up. Drury and Clavin always tell a good story, but this one got a little muddied by having so many characters and not necessarily a clear focus. The famed "Wild Bill" Donovan is as much a character as Pete Ortiz. It's also uncannily unlucky that there's another major Pete Ortiz book coming out at about the same time.

[Teresa]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The Phantom. This is an amazing book about Marine Pete Ortiz. The research and attention to details that went into telling this story are so very evident. This is a must read book for anyone interested in World War Two.

[Shiann]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book via audiobook.

The narration of this book was very well done. There were a lot of facts peppered throughout this story that anchored it into history. It was very interesting and well written.

[T.J.]

This was a great story to listen too and how this guy's life helped to bring down one of the most well known fascist regimes in history!

[Rich Gresham]

It was interesting and I really enjoyed the book

[MarilynW]

The Phantom: The Untold Story of the American Marine the Nazis Could Not Kill by Bob Drury

With all the books I've read about WWII, the French Resistance, and Bill Donovan’s Office of Strategic Services I'm surprised I didn't know more about Pierre “Pete” Ortiz and his accomplishments before and during WWII. Born in 1913, fluent in at least ten languages, and already having served in the French Foreign Legion, Pete was close to thirty by the time he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942. This is a man who has already seen it all and a man who could outdo younger men at just about anything, so when Bill Donovan became aware of Pete's accomplishments and talents, he snapped Pete up for the Office of Strategic Services in 1943.

The book spends a good amount of time on Bill Donovan, his endeavors, his accomplishments, and his often strained relationships with those in power during WWII. Knowing about Bill allows the reader to know the type of organization that Pete was joining. Not all of Bill's ideas were good ideas but grabbing Pete as one of his OSS agents showcases Bill seeing a man who was just what he needed to make a difference with his agency. To know about most of the OSS agents is to also know something about Bill. Pete excelled at the physical, mental, and emotional hardships of fighting a war that required the greatest of sacrifices. It's amazing that Pete survived being shot several times, walking among the enemy whenever needed, and the life of a POW more than once.

Pete's master of languages and cultures allowed him to be whoever he needed to be which made him a excellent spy but he was also a great leader of the men assigned to him. He trained members of the French Resistance and also managed to get numerous downed pilots out of enemy territory to safety. Add to all of this, he was a handsome Errol Flynn lookalike and he appeared in many movies and TV shows although he didn't consider himself very good as an actor. I know I'm just highlighting a few things about Pete and his accomplishments, the details are so very interesting and now I want to read more about him in the future.

I often get lost researching the people I meet in my nonfiction reading, and this time, once I learned about Resistance leader, Jean Bulle, I know I'll look for more to read about him although most of what I see seems to be in French. There are many more men who had contact with or worked closely with Pete who have drawn my interest thanks to the book. I'm glad to have gotten to know this man, someone who never wanted to sit on the sidelines and who was willing to use his talents to defeat the enemy, no matter where he found himself.

Expected pub October 6, 2026

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC