I have upset some of you with the original title of the video so I have changed the wording. This video was not about accusing John Wayne of anything and I'm not interested in clickbait titles. I have showcased a number of celebrities who served so it is interesting to get another prospective. I have had to delete comments regarding the older title as they will no longer make sense. If you don't agree that he avoided service then I'm happy for you to let me know.
There is a difference between having a legitimate deferment and being a so-called "draft dodger." Deferments are legal, but "draft dodging" is not. When first deferred, Wayne was not as well established as other Hollywood people who volunteered for service. Consequently, he could not absorb the loss of income as say, Fonda, Stewart, Gable, or John Ford could without imposing undue hardship on his family. In any case, they weren't calling up that many men over 28 or with large families to support at that time. Later in the war, when older men with families were being called up, Republic Studio sought his deferment as essential to their business, which was accepted. By then, Wayne was in his late 30s and would have had difficulty passing the physical due to college football injuries. Having said this, it's also true that Wayne was having a grand time in Hollywood during the war, carousing with Ward Bond and shagging Marlene Dietrich (among others).
@@War_And_Truth Better but still bad. Stating that Wayne avoided service is a more neutral way of saying he was a draft dodger, but it still begs the question. Whether or not Wayne was required to serve is the subject under debate. The way you phrase it, everyone who did not serve avoided service. “Avoided service” is not the same thing as “was not required to serve.”
@ If you want to have an argument, debate, or argle-bargle about whether Wayne was required to serve or should have volunteered, that’s very interesting. But what you’re doing is presenting the question as settled. He dodged the draft, he avoided service. If that’s what you believe, that’s fine, but that’s opinion, not truth.
Back in the late '70s/early 80s, then Congressman Andrew Jacobs, himself a Korean War veteran, coined the term "war wimp" to refer to those of his colleagues who deliberately evaded service when they were eligible but went full-on hawk once they were too old to go themselves. Issue wasn't the not serving, and it wasn't the gung-ho interventionist politics, but the hypocrisy of doing both.
Except when he appeared on stage dressed as a cowboy in front of a group of wounded US marine during WW2 they booed him off the stage. And John ford would not let Wayne forget that he did not serve. In fact in one film he listed everyone in the credits by his military rank except Wayne was shown as just plain Mr John Wayne.
One of Wayne’s co-stars in “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” and “Fort Apache,” George O’Brien, was a sailor during WW1. He volunteered to be a stretcher bearer with the Marines, and was decorated for bravery. In his 40s he reenlisted after Pearl Harbor, and served as a beachmaster during the Navy-Marine island hopping campaign in the Pacific. Wayne also acted alongside Adam Williams, a decorated Navy dive-bomber pilot, in “Flying Leathernecks,” and James Stewart in “The Shootist.” I guess you could say Wayne played a hero in the company of heroes.
Age: Wayne was 34 years old at the time of Pearl Harbor, which was an exemption to service. Family status: Wayne was classified as 3-A, which was a family deferment. Wayne applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, but was not accepted due to poor grades. " "Why didn't John Wayne enlist in WWII? However, he was classified as 3-A by the Selective Service System, meaning he had dependents who relied on him for financial support. He had four children at the time and was the primary breadwinner for his family. This status exempted him from immediate draft eligibility."
It is interesting that Wayne applied to the U.S. Naval Academy. Goes without saying that if he had been accepted, he very well might have gone down a very different career path.
One thing you have missed. Wayne himself had to apply for this exemption. So it was Wayne who asked for it. Henry Fonda could also have applied but he chose to serve his country.
Thousands of men in Wayne’s position received deferments for health, family, or being in occupations critical to the war effort. It doesn’t matter what is said here. Wayne made his choices, and whether those choices haunted him or not, he lived with them in his own way.
I have read and listened to a few biographies of Wayne. One Marine officer was quoted saying that as an actor raising war bonds and making moral boosters he did more for the Marines than he would have as a Marine. Look at his work in The Sands of Iwo Jima. He also tried to enlist in the Secret Service but was turned down because his face would have been too recognizable.
I think this is actually quite fair handed. I don’t think I would go as far as calling Wayne a draft dodger although he didn’t serve. The subject came up on the set of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Here John Ford made his life hell pointing out that co star James Stewart had served (“hey, Duke; what were you doing while Jimmy here was risking his life over Europe?”) and that Woody Strode had actually been a sports star which embarrassed both those men. As for the studio’s stepping in to defer Wayne’s enlistment, it was my understanding that Herbert J Yates running Republic not wanting to lose his one bankable star and pulling strings with the War Department. And Wayne was very uncomfortable with this for the rest of his life. One other thing is that James Stewart and Clark Gable are exceptions here. Many established film stars never went overseas, such as Ronald Reagan or Robert Taylor. Gable was ordered out of combat roles after Herman Goering found out about him and put a bounty on him. The Air Force thought this increased the risk to other American airmen who were already taking heavy casualties.
During his USO tour of the Southwest Pacific, Wayne did a "ride-along" in a spotter plane over enemy territory and another in an assault boat involved in an opposed landing.
@@IncogNito-gg6uh See the Michael Munn biography. While not combat service, a front-line USO tour in a place like New Guinea posed its own risks. Wayne took additional risks on these excursions. An Army friend (pictured in the title frame and I believe a USC classmate) raised hell with him for taking these risks, as he'd have been in it up to his ears had Wayne been killed or injured. This is an example of why, after the first rush of patriotic enlistments early in the war, the services really didn't want movie stars, politicians, and the like in the front lines. They were of far greater value on War Bond tours.
He applied for his family deferment. All his autobiographers agreed his movie career was just starting to take off and it was his chance to be a big star. His best friend and mentor john ford who served in the navy would tell him he was a coward for not joining up John tried to sign up with the oss was declined by wild bill donavan, the head. Wayne however was a great spokesman for the war effort.
Another fair comment. I have read the story that Donovan did react positively to Wayne’s request, but a letter from Donovan never reached Wayne, and Wayne never followed up.
John Wayne's case is hard to pin down. On one hand, he was 34 at the time of Pearl Harbor and classed 3-A for having a family so he wasn't subject to the draft. On the other hand, Henry Fonda was 36 with two children on December 7, 1941 and still managed to join up. He also made a legit but minor and unsuccessful attempt to join the OSS probably because of John Ford's connection to it. As far as I can tell, Wayne didn't try all that hard to either join or avoid the service and instead passively let others make the decision for him.
You do know that he wasn't required for any reason to "try hard" .... he was no draft dodger and calling him one - like "War & Truth" just did is f'ing ridiculous!
Another fact about Henry Fonda is that he actually had a degree in he was able to be a commissioned officer while John Wayne (Marion Morrison) would likely been enlisted
@@dlxmarks Stuff it, boy! I served and I say that no man at 35 with a wife and children is required to push hard to fight a war. He was NOT a draft dodger! That is my only point.
Nope. After Pearl Harbor, the draft age went from 21-35 to 18-64. The average age of our military was 26. That tells that many were in their 30's and older. Charles Keller, the oldest man to serve, retired in 1943 at age 73.
@@littleguy6753 Thank you - I did not know that. My dad was 23 when he jumped at Normandy. My grandpa (WWI vet) was in his 40s when he was called up (just to guard a shipyard). But did the Duke actually get drafted and refuse to report? As opposed to just not volunteering?
I always thought it ironic that in the movie, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", Wayne played the tough guy hero while a Real Hero of WWII, Jimmy Stewart played the "civilized" lawyer.
I think one of the main reasons was because the studios forced him to and secured those deferments. He was under contract and they threatened to destroy his career if he left for service.
In The UK Coal miners were not permitted to enlist because they were considered essential to the war effort. My point is not everyone can be a service member. I say this as a veteran of 30 plus years and operational deployments. I don’t blame John Wayne for living his life as he saw fit. Besides, it’s not our place to judge someone who lived during the 2nd world war and did no harm imho
Except that many miners did serve, in both wars. Which is why the call up in WW2 included what was known as the Bevin Boys. Those sent down the mines instead of the armed forces.
It's easy to criticize a dead man. Wayne probably did more good back home in the states than he ever would have being enlisted. Even if he had joined, it's not like the army would've put him in some front line combat unit. Not everyone at the time had to be an Army private on the beaches of Normandy or a Marine fighting the Japanese on Saipan.The people who beat their chests nowadays and proclaim John Wayne a coward simply for not going off to war and potentially dying, are usually the same ones that say they would've draft dodged in Vietnam. A lot of them turn out to usually be hypocrites. Quick to label people they don't like cowards, especially ones that can't defend themselves anymore. I personally don't care that John Wayne never served, to me he's still a great actor and American patriot. Not everyone is cut out for the military, I'm thankful for my friends and family who've served, but I'd never think less of a person for not choosing to. It's not really our place to judge personally.
I have enjoyed watching 99.999% of your videos. This one gets a thumbs down. Putting Lee Marvin who was 18 years old when he joined. Next to John Wayne who was 35 when WW II started is showing your bias of not really caring for Wayne the actor. At that age, the military draft would have passed him over. Even with a draft cut off of 36 years old. Could Wayne have enlisted, sure. Would Wayne be in a foxhole? I doubt it. Would he be flying around in a plane like Clark Gable? Possible. But Wayne didn't lose his wife like Clark Gable. Carole Lombard died January of 1942. Almost 1 month to the day of the start of the war. Clark Gable joined the service in August of 42. Would he have joined if his wife didn't pass. Most likely not. Was he hoping to get shot down to reunite with his wife? Possible. Was Wayne the sole provider to his family and given the pass by the government? Yes. Did Wayne make GREAT needed propaganda films to support the war. YES. Has Wayne always supported America? Yes.... I personally served in the Vietnam era. I have never called anyone that hasn't served a coward. The End.
Henry Fonda was 36 with two children on December 7, 1941 and still managed to volunteer for the Navy. As far as I can tell, Wayne didn't try all that hard to either join or avoid the service and instead passively let others make the decision for him. Fonda and Wayne made their choices and had to live with the consequences.
@dlxmarks Wayne went to The Selective Service board. The government classified him lll-A (Registrant with a child or children; registrant deferred by reason of extreme hardship to dependents) after they investigated the matter. If the government didn't find the matter to be truthful. They could have drafted him. But I doubt it at 35yo.
I’m COOL with what JOHN WAYNE did for WW2 …… WE WERE’NT THERE !!!!! We should respect and appreciate all the service personnel MEN and WOMEN Alike The regular folks And the Celebrities !!!!!!!!! My favorite JOHN WAYNE movies THEY Were Expendable !!! The COWBOYS The HORSE SOLDIERS McClintok I’m sure there’s more !!!!! WAR n TRUTH ON …… CHRIS 🇺🇸
My opinion is that if you are someone in your mid to late 30s by the time a major or global conflict breaks out, you shouldn't feel as obliged to enlist. Now if you are at that age, and still do choose to join any branch of the military to help do your part, I'm completely fine with that as well. I also don't have a problem with anyone who stays on the home front to help out with the massive production that accompanies such a large scale conflict.
I think a lot of the WWII veteran actors had no problem with John Wayne bc they knew how the studios basically blackmailed him into not serving directly on the front lines.
If it wasn't for WWII no one would remember John Wayne he as a "B" actor and would have stayed one if some many of the actually movie stars of the time had not gone into the service.... John Ford offered to get him in and as an Officer with not combat duties...he refused...no use for John Wayne. Not a coward so much as an opportunist.
I remember meeting a kid who volunteered to fight after 9-11, but didn’t make the cut. I kinda admired him. I joined during the Cold War and didn’t think we’d actually fight- it was a safe bet. I don’t know if I’d volunteer if we’re actively fighting.
Henry Fonda was 36 with two children on December 7, 1941 and still managed to volunteer for the Navy. He and Wayne made their choices and had to live with the consequences.
@@dlxmarks YES!!!!!! Apparently Fonda, even with his liberal democrat inclinations, was enough of a patriot to enlist and go risk his life for his country. Wayne was a total fake. Stewart had to keep trying to join up and he got flunked for being under weight. He kept at it until he made it.
Wayne war effort was needed else where. I have no problem with John Wayne he did a lot for moral and recruiting for the military. In the military John Wayne was everyone’s on film war hero.
It’d be one thing if John Wayne didn’t consistently typecast himself as the persona of the classic American manly hero type, but the guy built his entire career around being the most stereotypical alpha male one could be at the time. It’s only more damning because he did so at a time where his fellow countrymen, younger and older than himself were being drafted and volunteered to be flung into the fire of the 2nd world war. He was one of the few to take advantage of his status as a Hollywood actor even though at the same time Major League Baseball and football players, as well as Hollywood actors were openly putting their professional careers on hold and volunteering to do their bit to help out in the war effort.
Not happy with this episode. So he didn't serve, so what? Every film he was in, during the war, helped morale on the Home Front. Love him or hate him, Wayne is an American Icon. `Nuff said.
I would never put that title to anyone. Its simply a matter of a persons beliefs, in him/herself capabilities. Secondly, the suicide rate and misery, having had to endure war, is surly proof that few can really escape free without harm.
That is some new information to learn. I only knew of him as the guy in all those cowboy movies and how one time he wanted to beat up a Native woman at an award show
Calling John Wayne a Draft Dodger is completely unfair. He was was 34-35 and overage, he had a very famously bad knee, and he was deaf in one ear. He did make some attempts at serving, including his desire to serve with his friend John Ford. With all those things he wouldn't have been eligible to serve no matter if he wanted to or not. The inability to march or hear from one side disqualified him.
Deaf as well? So far in the comments I have had flat feet, bad knee, asthma and now deaf. You would think he was 75 not 35. Elmo Hanney (The Pacific) was fighting in the absolute worse conditions at 44. Also don't forget the number of men who were shot and or badly wounded who continued to fight. Joe Toye (Band of Brothers) is a great example. John Wayne seems to have a lot of apologists. I find it interesting.
Jesus Christ! I didn't know any of this about john wayne!! I cant look at him the same anymore. Yet he has the balls to play a military HERO on the screen. And yes, i am a veteran in my late 30's
Don't fall for the propaganda. John Wayne was injured playing football in College. He was not eligible for the draft. Even so. John Wayne was a true Patriot who regretted not serving. He raised children who are staunch Patriots. Henry Fonda raised Treasonous Brats.
If you ever went through Basic Training as an 18 yesr old, you sure as hell wouldn't recommend anyone doing it over 30! It's rough as hell hauling a 100 pounds of weight on your back and ankles. I think some people complaining are just showing off.
It would be fair to say that every veteran during WWII put their life and career on hold to serve the nation.....and many lost their lives or career paths due to serious injuries. Wayne probably got booed in Australia for portraying war as it wasn't as much as his failure to serve. Having no dog in this fight, the best that can be said is Wayne had to live with his decision.
He was involved with marlene Dietrich who occupied his time Thus preventing him from enlisting also he was married At.the time to someone else So.his.morals would have been questioned!
According to Marine Magazine in early 2003, John Wayne attempted to join the Marine Corps, but, was turned down due to an injury he sustained while in college. I myself served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and am a life long John Wayne fan. I am not sure of this video maker's political position, but, it is my experience going back to the 1960's those who criticize John Wayne for this are usually leftists who hate America and America's military. John Wayne inspired me when I was growing up and still does. Semper Fi to the Late John Wayne from a combat Marine.
"John Wayne attended the University of Southern California and also played on the USC football team under coach Howard Jones. A broken collarbone injury curtailed his athletic career; Wayne later noted that he was too terrified of Jones' reaction to reveal the actual cause of his injury, a bodysurfing accident. He lost his athletic scholarship, and without funds, had to leave the university." Now for the record, I don't give a crap if one is left-wing, right-wing, or just a chicken wing, however anyone who honestly, believes a "broken collarbone" suffered some 15 years earlier could cause them to fail a physical for military service, IMO, must hate truth, honesty, and the American way. Have a nice day!
A whole lot of bickering over a guy who has been dead since 79. I’m sure John Wayne gives zero foxtrot what any of us think today. We have more pressing priorities today than to worry about John Way e not serving during WWII.
I'm sorry, but as soon as you referenced Gary Wills, it hurt the credibility of your information. Wills famously wrote his book in 1992 in an attempt to run cover Bill Clinton's blatant draft dodging ("He famously wrote home to his draft board, from England, "I loathe the military" and refused to return home when his number was called. James Olson and Randy Roberts had access to Wayne's files and did extensive interviews with Wayne's private secretary of 40 years Mary St John for their book John Wayne: American. Wayne tried multiple times to enlist in the Marine Corps and get assigned to John Ford's OSS unit. The head of Republic Pictures Herbert J Yates ensured through political connections that Wayne would be refused. First citing age, then his four dependent children and finally the injury that cost him his USC football scholarship. By the time Wayne got all that mess straightened out Ford told him not to bother enlisting, as he be doing nothing but "picking up cigarettes butts on Camp Pendleton. As for the stories of Ford berating Wayne as a coward, Ford was famous for beating up on Wayne on set as a means to keep other actors in line. Both Henry Fonda and Robert Montgomery called Ford out on set for his treatment of Wayne. None of the men who served that Wayne later worked with thought less of Wayne for not serving-- this includes Aldo Ray, who famously disliked Wayne, but never doubted his courage and integrity. In addition to that he was friends with Louis B Puller who loathed cowardice just as much as his cousin George S Patton. He was also Ted Williams favorite actor. With all that being said, Wayne still did his part beyond making movies which were little more than 80 minute recruiting ads. On at least one, and possibly a half dozen, USO tours he was used by the OSS as a courier to bring top secret intelligence back to the States. He was given an award by the US government, but he informed them through St John that he would not be accepting because he felt he was nothing more that a "glorified delivery boy". As a final note, Wayne's lack of service was such a nothing burger prior to 1992 that it wasn't mentioned in Walter Cronkite's backhanded and insulting obituary on CBS Evening News (which can be found on RUclips). Hope this helps.
He wasn’t a draft dodger. The studio’s ran interference to keep him out of the military. The government also thought he would do better making propaganda movies. No, Clark Gable was a Captain in the Air Corps, Captains don’t work as an air gunners. He was sent to Europe by General Hap Arnold to film aerial gunners in combat. His real job was to make films for the Air Corps not fly missions as an air gunner. Any gunning he did was voluntary. Other actors like Reagan also made films. If John Wayne did join he would have made training films. He would have been too old for the infantry.
would have his aged really been a excuse? my great uncle served as infantry in ww2 through the North African campaign Italian campaign and stayed on till the end of the war, even after being wounded at Monte Cassino, he was 39 when he left New Zealand to fight the war, however my granddad stayed home as he ran the family farm and the sole bread winner for the family, it was either he goes or my great uncle, and my great uncle went because he had no kids.... My granddad on my mums side however thought people like John Wayne were essentially "Poser's", he served as home guard and naval reserve in England during WW2, post the war when he was serving age (he attempted to lie about his age to go fight multiple time but his mum would found out and drag him back to the recruitment office and say hes only 15/16) he joined the Indian army signal corps and commissioned (Indian Army still being part of the empire at the time) then when the Korean war came round, end up joining the Australian Infantry as a Plt commander (3rd or 5th RAR, whatever Regiment was based in the north) and served a year in Korea seeing heavy combat. So my opinion, John Wayne chose fame, fortune and blonde booty over serving his country, thats my opinion though, I talked about my family as an example of men who did everything they could to make sure they served and unfortunately John Wayne didn't
Actually he was in the Cold War when Joseph Stalin sent agents to take him out, yet knowing they were coming for him (FBI warned him) they almost got him while doing a film in the early 1950s. He had that much of an affect on patriotism in the USA. Next, it was Mao's turn to try and get him and they failed. So not many people know this. Now you know.
Yes I am sure his children will discuss this subject with some random on RUclips. Its a great discussion point and most people have been fair in their views.
Wayne was no limp-wristed pretty-boy Hollywood actor; he had PLENTY of back alley scraps (many alcohol-fueled, no doubt) in his day. Never heard of ANYONE calling him a 'draft dodger' to his face ! Even in his 50s, at 6ft 4" & 250 pounds, he was a FORMIDABLE man......
Did you do a biography about Ronald Reagan? Like John Wayne the studio he was contracted with stopped him from joining. In the end Reagan was able to do state side work with the Army.
Lieutenant Reagan was ordered to active duty on April 19, 1942. Due to his poor eyesight, he was classified for limited service only excluding him from serving overseas.
@@edwardmurphy5371 I did not know that. I heard somehow he discovered Marylin Monroe as a worker at a war plant in CA for a photo shoot of Rosy Riveters.
It is a well-known fact that John Wayne was not allowed to serve in the military during WW2 because of the film producers he was under contract with. As soon as the military reclassified Wayne as fit for duty and draftable, the company immediately threatened to sue the US military for violating their contract with Wayne, claiming their contract superseded and overrode any right the military had to draft eligible men for active military service. They also threatened to sue John Wayne personally, to the point of destroying his career and ensuring he would live the rest of his life broke and destitute if he broke his contract with them to serve in the military. Calling John Wayne a coward or questioning his not serving in the military during WW2 is unacceptable and reeks of the most vile hypocrisy.
Neither was Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Tyrone Power, or any number of leading men. It wasn’t cowardice, it was opportunistic. Which some would say is worse.
Henry Fonda was 36 with two children on December 7, 1941 and still managed to volunteer for the Navy. He and Wayne made their choices and had to live with the consequences.
I doubt that had John Wayne joined any branch or been drafted (they drafted into the Marines as well as Army in WW2) that he would have seen any foxhole time even if he wanted to. First of all, he was too old for most rifle units. Secondly, he had many cowboy movies out so the military probably would not like the bad press of having such a familiar face get killed in action. I recall in the late 60s when a rumor went around that "Beaver" Cleaver of "Leave it to Beaver" fame had been killed in Vietnam, even though not true, it had many people upset. Also, there was a man named Lawrence Welk killed in Vietnam and the rumor went around that he was the son of the famous bandleader, which he wasn't. I can understand John Wayne's survivor guilt, I went in the Army at 17 in 1971 and trained as a field artilleryman but despite turning in several requests to go to Vietnam, I was never taken. This has been a big disappointment to me all of these years.
@@tomryan914 That was another rumor that went around. Ken Osmond played Eddie Haskell, he became a member of LAPD and was wounded while on duty in real life. Another rumor was that Eddie Haskell was portrayed by porn star John C. Holmes.
Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart served. Even Audrey Hepburn served. There are always going to be people making excuses for their favorite celebrities and politicians. Especially those who hugged flags their whole career.
Being mid thirties not the time to be joining military. When the next war comes along I assume you will be joining up to fight. Until then shut up with your blah blah blah .😅
As far as I can tell, Wayne didn't try all that hard to either join or avoid the service and instead passively let others make the decision for him. But overcompensating later by becoming a super-patriot who sought out glamorized combat roles and automatically endorsed military policy was just sad.
@@Sarsfield-jm2bg Absolutely, as well as David Niven , Laurence Olivier, and Chrispoher Lee with us Brits, and even the late Queen of England managed to do her bit. And Michael Caine in Korea.
This old chestnut......JW was never going to enter the army or navy......he was too old and had I think 4 children so was never going to go in...... as for Lee Marvin he started acting after WW2......and is buried in Arrlington......great man and actor....
Well, he surely had no business playing war heroes like he did. It can be excused during the war but after the war, he should have had the decency to refuse the roles.
This is misleading click bait. Wayne was 34 yrs old, and married with a few kids in 1941. he was exempted from draft. and to be honest, if he had been drafted he would not have done much more than the USO shows he did do in pacific theater. could he have volunteered? I suppose so. but he's not a draft dodger. Personally, I think he regretted not volunteering for military. He did participate in USO shows though; which is what we probably would have expected.
@@michaelgross7016 Mate click bait is putting up a title or thumbnail which is misleading or has nothing to do with the video. The title might have been not fair (I have changed it) but its not click bait.
@War_And_Truth suggesting Wayne at 34 yrs old was a coward (or could have been a coward) in the title is click bait. It's laughable. That sort of grabs one's attention and it's complete bunk. Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart both volunteered for service....both army air corps. Gable in particular had trouble with the studios. They owned actors back then and didn't want him to volunteer. Pretty sure the studios leaned on Wayne too. Wayne prob had 100 films by 1941 but wasn't a superstar until the late 1930s, and his star was rising.....pretty sure the studios didn't want him away in the military. NOT A COWARD. A non click bait, but accurate title would be a rather dull "John Wayne During WW2"
General Stewart said that JohN Wayne could do more for the war effort from the homefront. So I will go with what his contemporaries said instead of this pinko nonsense
A Republic should not draft men to fight it's wars. That's what dictatorships do. A Republic lays out the case for service to it's people, and lets them decide if a war is worth fighting.
He became a "super patriot" after the war, which would explain his participation in the 1968 Viet Nam flick "Green Berets." The war was becoming very unpopular at home, the draft requirements were being lowered to keep the number of "boots on the ground" up and McNamara / Kissinger stood by their mathematical calculations that America could win the war if they killed more than they lost. Unfortunately the media and the guys who rotated home told a different story. His rational for doing the movie was to boost moral and support for the troops, but in Viet Nam, but unlike WW2, there were no cheering, adoring crowds welcoming liberating American soldiers. It was war of body counts, plain and simple. As for the movie, it was a cheesy film full of over acting, especially from Wayne. In my opinion.
I have upset some of you with the original title of the video so I have changed the wording. This video was not about accusing John Wayne of anything and I'm not interested in clickbait titles. I have showcased a number of celebrities who served so it is interesting to get another prospective.
I have had to delete comments regarding the older title as they will no longer make sense. If you don't agree that he avoided service then I'm happy for you to let me know.
There is a difference between having a legitimate deferment and being a so-called "draft dodger." Deferments are legal, but "draft dodging" is not. When first deferred, Wayne was not as well established as other Hollywood people who volunteered for service. Consequently, he could not absorb the loss of income as say, Fonda, Stewart, Gable, or John Ford could without imposing undue hardship on his family. In any case, they weren't calling up that many men over 28 or with large families to support at that time. Later in the war, when older men with families were being called up, Republic Studio sought his deferment as essential to their business, which was accepted. By then, Wayne was in his late 30s and would have had difficulty passing the physical due to college football injuries. Having said this, it's also true that Wayne was having a grand time in Hollywood during the war, carousing with Ward Bond and shagging Marlene Dietrich (among others).
@@War_And_Truth Better but still bad. Stating that Wayne avoided service is a more neutral way of saying he was a draft dodger, but it still begs the question. Whether or not Wayne was required to serve is the subject under debate. The way you phrase it, everyone who did not serve avoided service. “Avoided service” is not the same thing as “was not required to serve.”
@@michaelmcmeel914 Well mate he could have served if he wanted to is the whole point.
@ If you want to have an argument, debate, or argle-bargle about whether Wayne was required to serve or should have volunteered, that’s very interesting. But what you’re doing is presenting the question as settled. He dodged the draft, he avoided service. If that’s what you believe, that’s fine, but that’s opinion, not truth.
@@War_And_Truth *_NO it's not!!!!!_* - See my comment. Delete it - and I delete you.
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Back in the late '70s/early 80s, then Congressman Andrew Jacobs, himself a Korean War veteran, coined the term "war wimp" to refer to those of his colleagues who deliberately evaded service when they were eligible but went full-on hawk once they were too old to go themselves. Issue wasn't the not serving, and it wasn't the gung-ho interventionist politics, but the hypocrisy of doing both.
Most veterans had no problem with Wayne including Gen. Stewart, they were close friends.
Except when he appeared on stage dressed as a cowboy in front of a group of wounded US marine during WW2 they booed him off the stage. And John ford would not let Wayne forget that he did not serve. In fact in one film he listed everyone in the credits by his military rank except Wayne was shown as just plain Mr John Wayne.
One of Wayne’s co-stars in “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” and “Fort Apache,” George O’Brien, was a sailor during WW1. He volunteered to be a stretcher bearer with the Marines, and was decorated for bravery. In his 40s he reenlisted after Pearl Harbor, and served as a beachmaster during the Navy-Marine island hopping campaign in the Pacific. Wayne also acted alongside Adam Williams, a decorated Navy dive-bomber pilot, in “Flying Leathernecks,” and James Stewart in “The Shootist.” I guess you could say Wayne played a hero in the company of heroes.
He played a hero. They were heroes
Age: Wayne was 34 years old at the time of Pearl Harbor, which was an exemption to service.
Family status: Wayne was classified as 3-A, which was a family deferment.
Wayne applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, but was not accepted due to poor grades. "
"Why didn't John Wayne enlist in WWII?
However, he was classified as 3-A by the Selective Service System, meaning he had dependents who relied on him for financial support. He had four children at the time and was the primary breadwinner for his family. This status exempted him from immediate draft eligibility."
At 34 he was still eligible for the draft. He was given the 3A as the only bread winner for 4 children.😊
And? Who cares
@@justinmishler6758It's that what this video is about? If you don't care, why are you here?
It is interesting that Wayne applied to the U.S. Naval Academy. Goes without saying that if he had been accepted, he very well might have gone down a very different career path.
One thing you have missed. Wayne himself had to apply for this exemption. So it was Wayne who asked for it. Henry Fonda could also have applied but he chose to serve his country.
Thousands of men in Wayne’s position received deferments for health, family, or being in occupations critical to the war effort. It doesn’t matter what is said here. Wayne made his choices, and whether those choices haunted him or not, he lived with them in his own way.
I have read and listened to a few biographies of Wayne. One Marine officer was quoted saying that as an actor raising war bonds and making moral boosters he did more for the Marines than he would have as a Marine. Look at his work in The Sands of Iwo Jima. He also tried to enlist in the Secret Service but was turned down because his face would have been too recognizable.
He could have served in a support role in the actual military. The man was selfish and a conniver
Sands of Iwo Jima came out in 1948.
@ It is an example of Wayne using his talents to serve the military. The movie was made because politicians were trying to eliminate the Marine Corps
@@c.w.johnsonjr6374 ...and depriving us of 'Gomer🪖 Pyle'.
I think this is actually quite fair handed. I don’t think I would go as far as calling Wayne a draft dodger although he didn’t serve. The subject came up on the set of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Here John Ford made his life hell pointing out that co star James Stewart had served (“hey, Duke; what were you doing while Jimmy here was risking his life over Europe?”) and that Woody Strode had actually been a sports star which embarrassed both those men. As for the studio’s stepping in to defer Wayne’s enlistment, it was my understanding that Herbert J Yates running Republic not wanting to lose his one bankable star and pulling strings with the War Department. And Wayne was very uncomfortable with this for the rest of his life.
One other thing is that James Stewart and Clark Gable are exceptions here. Many established film stars never went overseas, such as Ronald Reagan or Robert Taylor. Gable was ordered out of combat roles after Herman Goering found out about him and put a bounty on him. The Air Force thought this increased the risk to other American airmen who were already taking heavy casualties.
During his USO tour of the Southwest Pacific, Wayne did a "ride-along" in a spotter plane over enemy territory and another in an assault boat involved in an opposed landing.
Do you have a source? I’ve read two biographies of Wayne and have never seen that mentioned.
@@IncogNito-gg6uh See the Michael Munn biography. While not combat service, a front-line USO tour in a place like New Guinea posed its own risks. Wayne took additional risks on these excursions. An Army friend (pictured in the title frame and I believe a USC classmate) raised hell with him for taking these risks, as he'd have been in it up to his ears had Wayne been killed or injured. This is an example of why, after the first rush of patriotic enlistments early in the war, the services really didn't want movie stars, politicians, and the like in the front lines. They were of far greater value on War Bond tours.
It bothered me that he didn't go, but made a lot of complaints of the ones that didn't go to Vietnam.
I have no issues with John not being in WWII
He applied for his family deferment. All his autobiographers agreed his movie career was just starting to take off and it was his chance to be a big star. His best friend and mentor john ford who served in the navy would tell him he was a coward for not joining up
John tried to sign up with the oss was declined by wild bill donavan, the head. Wayne however was a great spokesman for the war effort.
Another fair comment. I have read the story that Donovan did react positively to Wayne’s request, but a letter from Donovan never reached Wayne, and Wayne never followed up.
John Wayne's case is hard to pin down. On one hand, he was 34 at the time of Pearl Harbor and classed 3-A for having a family so he wasn't subject to the draft. On the other hand, Henry Fonda was 36 with two children on December 7, 1941 and still managed to join up. He also made a legit but minor and unsuccessful attempt to join the OSS probably because of John Ford's connection to it. As far as I can tell, Wayne didn't try all that hard to either join or avoid the service and instead passively let others make the decision for him.
A fair comment.
You do know that he wasn't required for any reason to "try hard" .... he was no draft dodger and calling him one - like "War & Truth" just did is f'ing ridiculous!
Another fact about Henry Fonda is that he actually had a degree in he was able to be a commissioned officer while John Wayne (Marion Morrison) would likely been enlisted
@@haggis525 Yep, that's what made the Greatest Generation great: doing only what they were required to do. 😆
@@dlxmarks Stuff it, boy! I served and I say that no man at 35 with a wife and children is required to push hard to fight a war. He was NOT a draft dodger! That is my only point.
Oh good grief. He was too old to be drafted.
Nope. After Pearl Harbor, the draft age went from 21-35 to 18-64. The average age of our military was 26. That tells that many were in their 30's and older. Charles Keller, the oldest man to serve, retired in 1943 at age 73.
@@littleguy6753 Thank you - I did not know that. My dad was 23 when he jumped at Normandy. My grandpa (WWI vet) was in his 40s when he was called up (just to guard a shipyard). But did the Duke actually get drafted and refuse to report? As opposed to just not volunteering?
No he wasn't.
@@jeffbosworth8116 He did nothing illegal
@@sartanawillpay7977 agree
I always thought it ironic that in the movie, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", Wayne played the tough guy hero while a Real Hero of WWII, Jimmy Stewart played the "civilized" lawyer.
Wayne almost got his ass kicked on "Valance" by WOODY STRODE over his lack of military service,Strode a Black man served IN the war in the U.S. Navy.
I think one of the main reasons was because the studios forced him to and secured those deferments. He was under contract and they threatened to destroy his career if he left for service.
Clark Gable, James Stewart, Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin to name a few.
In The UK Coal miners were not permitted to enlist because they were considered essential to the war effort. My point is not everyone can be a service member. I say this as a veteran of 30 plus years and operational deployments. I don’t blame John Wayne for living his life as he saw fit. Besides, it’s not our place to judge someone who lived during the 2nd world war and did no harm imho
I agree. He had his reasons and that's fine. I don't buy the argument that he couldn't enlist however.
Except that many miners did serve, in both wars. Which is why the call up in WW2 included what was known as the Bevin Boys. Those sent down the mines instead of the armed forces.
Selling war bonds
It's easy to criticize a dead man. Wayne probably did more good back home in the states than he ever would have being enlisted. Even if he had joined, it's not like the army would've put him in some front line combat unit. Not everyone at the time had to be an Army private on the beaches of Normandy or a Marine fighting the Japanese on Saipan.The people who beat their chests nowadays and proclaim John Wayne a coward simply for not going off to war and potentially dying, are usually the same ones that say they would've draft dodged in Vietnam. A lot of them turn out to usually be hypocrites. Quick to label people they don't like cowards, especially ones that can't defend themselves anymore. I personally don't care that John Wayne never served, to me he's still a great actor and American patriot.
Not everyone is cut out for the military, I'm thankful for my friends and family who've served, but I'd never think less of a person for not choosing to. It's not really our place to judge personally.
I criticize Tom Hanks and the Band of Brothers writers all the time.
@@War_And_Truth It wasn't really directed at you. It's mainly people who are the first to immediately jump to the "It was cowardice" argument.
I have enjoyed watching 99.999% of your videos. This one gets a thumbs down. Putting Lee Marvin who was 18 years old when he joined. Next to John Wayne who was 35 when WW II started is showing your bias of not really caring for Wayne the actor. At that age, the military draft would have passed him over. Even with a draft cut off of 36 years old. Could Wayne have enlisted, sure. Would Wayne be in a foxhole? I doubt it. Would he be flying around in a plane like Clark Gable? Possible. But Wayne didn't lose his wife like Clark Gable. Carole Lombard died January of 1942. Almost 1 month to the day of the start of the war. Clark Gable joined the service in August of 42. Would he have joined if his wife didn't pass. Most likely not. Was he hoping to get shot down to reunite with his wife? Possible. Was Wayne the sole provider to his family and given the pass by the government? Yes. Did Wayne make GREAT needed propaganda films to support the war. YES. Has Wayne always supported America? Yes.... I personally served in the Vietnam era. I have never called anyone that hasn't served a coward. The End.
Henry Fonda was 36 with two children on December 7, 1941 and still managed to volunteer for the Navy. As far as I can tell, Wayne didn't try all that hard to either join or avoid the service and instead passively let others make the decision for him. Fonda and Wayne made their choices and had to live with the consequences.
@@dlxmarksSo what. Henry may have hated his Treasonous Brats. John Wayne raised Patriots.
@dlxmarks Wayne went to The Selective Service board. The government classified him lll-A (Registrant with a child or children; registrant deferred by reason of extreme hardship to dependents) after they investigated the matter. If the government didn't find the matter to be truthful. They could have drafted him. But I doubt it at 35yo.
Vietnam era lol
My father was a WW2 vet and refused to go to a John Wayne movie or watch one on TV until the day he died.
Good for your dad! He earned the right to. Is this true that Wayne was a draft dodger?? And yes, I am a veteran in my late 30's
No, he tried to enlist, but draft board told him he was too old, so get your facts right.
@@cameronh3775 When and for which service did he try to enlist? Put up some facts of your own.
Too bad; your father missed The Best Western ever produced, starring John Wayne, Ward Bond & Jeffrey Hunter: THE SEARCHERS, in 1956.
@cameronh3775 Nobody knows if a backhander was given, but maybe you are right. But Gable was older and managed several missions over Nazi Europe.
I’m COOL with what JOHN WAYNE did for WW2 ……
WE WERE’NT THERE !!!!!
We should respect and appreciate all the service personnel
MEN and WOMEN Alike
The regular folks
And the Celebrities !!!!!!!!!
My favorite JOHN WAYNE
movies
THEY Were Expendable !!!
The COWBOYS
The HORSE SOLDIERS
McClintok
I’m sure there’s more !!!!!
WAR n TRUTH ON ……
CHRIS 🇺🇸
My opinion is that if you are someone in your mid to late 30s by the time a major or global conflict breaks out, you shouldn't feel as obliged to enlist. Now if you are at that age, and still do choose to join any branch of the military to help do your part, I'm completely fine with that as well. I also don't have a problem with anyone who stays on the home front to help out with the massive production that accompanies such a large scale conflict.
I think a lot of the WWII veteran actors had no problem with John Wayne bc they knew how the studios basically blackmailed him into not serving directly on the front lines.
That's a shame if that's indeed what happened.
If it wasn't for WWII no one would remember John Wayne he as a "B" actor and would have stayed one if some many of the actually movie stars of the time had not gone into the service.... John Ford offered to get him in and as an Officer with not combat duties...he refused...no use for John Wayne. Not a coward so much as an opportunist.
Exactly correct
I remember meeting a kid who volunteered to fight after 9-11, but didn’t make the cut.
I kinda admired him.
I joined during the Cold War and didn’t think we’d actually fight- it was a safe bet.
I don’t know if I’d volunteer if we’re actively fighting.
My Dad was a WWII wounded Combat Medic, he hated him and considered him a coward!
On one of Wayne’s USO trips to the Pacific to visit Marines he was booed off the stage!
Im very surprised how many people feel so strongly about this
He had a couple of small children at that time. He was exempt.
Henry Fonda was 36 with two children on December 7, 1941 and still managed to volunteer for the Navy. He and Wayne made their choices and had to live with the consequences.
Maybe Wayne loved his kids more than Fonda did. They sure turned out more Patriotic than Fonda's Treasonous brats.@@dlxmarks
four actually (no nastiness here, you're in the right ballpark)
Manyyyy men had small children who fought and died.
@@dlxmarks YES!!!!!!
Apparently Fonda, even with his liberal democrat inclinations, was enough of a patriot to enlist and go risk his life for his country. Wayne was a total fake. Stewart had to keep trying to join up and he got flunked for being under weight. He kept at it until he made it.
Wayne war effort was needed else where. I have no problem with John Wayne he did a lot for moral and recruiting for the military. In the military John Wayne was everyone’s on film war hero.
It’d be one thing if John Wayne didn’t consistently typecast himself as the persona of the classic American manly hero type, but the guy built his entire career around being the most stereotypical alpha male one could be at the time. It’s only more damning because he did so at a time where his fellow countrymen, younger and older than himself were being drafted and volunteered to be flung into the fire of the 2nd world war. He was one of the few to take advantage of his status as a Hollywood actor even though at the same time Major League Baseball and football players, as well as Hollywood actors were openly putting their professional careers on hold and volunteering to do their bit to help out in the war effort.
Saving John Wayne is what it was all about while all other Americans fought for thier lives
The terms coward and hero are indeed overused
Not happy with this episode. So he didn't serve, so what? Every film he was in, during the war, helped morale on the Home Front. Love him or hate him, Wayne is an American Icon. `Nuff said.
I would never put that title to anyone. Its simply a matter of a persons beliefs, in him/herself capabilities.
Secondly, the suicide rate and misery, having had to endure war, is surly proof that few can really escape free without harm.
That is some new information to learn. I only knew of him as the guy in all those cowboy movies and how one time he wanted to beat up a Native woman at an award show
You just kind of teased the tidbit about Marlene Dietrich. I think that needs a separate video.
I need to read up about Marlene, she sounds like one hell of a woman.
I served and if I was drafted I would have still served. Acting tough and being tough are two different things
That makes him a very intelligent one 😂
Never cared for his 'acting' but I think he served in a different manner.
There is no substitute for being there.
Calling John Wayne a Draft Dodger is completely unfair. He was was 34-35 and overage, he had a very famously bad knee, and he was deaf in one ear. He did make some attempts at serving, including his desire to serve with his friend John Ford. With all those things he wouldn't have been eligible to serve no matter if he wanted to or not. The inability to march or hear from one side disqualified him.
Deaf as well? So far in the comments I have had flat feet, bad knee, asthma and now deaf. You would think he was 75 not 35. Elmo Hanney (The Pacific) was fighting in the absolute worse conditions at 44. Also don't forget the number of men who were shot and or badly wounded who continued to fight. Joe Toye (Band of Brothers) is a great example. John Wayne seems to have a lot of apologists. I find it interesting.
I'm a big Duke fan, It was his decision at the time for his age & family to not join. I would not call him a draft dodger or a coward.
Do you realize how ridiculous you sound?
@@user-mc4sq3fk5d Why don't you tell me..
Very.
Jesus Christ! I didn't know any of this about john wayne!! I cant look at him the same anymore. Yet he has the balls to play a military HERO on the screen. And yes, i am a veteran in my late 30's
Don't fall for the propaganda.
John Wayne was injured playing football in College.
He was not eligible for the draft. Even so.
John Wayne was a true Patriot who regretted not serving.
He raised children who are staunch Patriots. Henry Fonda raised Treasonous Brats.
If you ever went through Basic Training as an 18 yesr old, you sure as hell wouldn't recommend anyone doing it over 30! It's rough as hell hauling a 100 pounds of weight on your back and ankles. I think some people complaining are just showing off.
Jimmy Stewart, a decorated war veteran, was a friend of John Wayne.
He was a nice guy and was friends with a lot of these guys.
@@War_And_Truth If Jimmy Stewart had no problem with it, why should anyone else?
It would be fair to say that every veteran during WWII put their life and career on hold to serve the nation.....and many lost their lives or career paths due to serious injuries. Wayne probably got booed in Australia for portraying war as it wasn't as much as his failure to serve. Having no dog in this fight, the best that can be said is Wayne had to live with his decision.
John Wayne was selfish. That's all.
Draft Dodgers dont usually have a clear conscience
Talking of celebrities Mel Brooks served in ww2 mostly mine clearance under fire..
He wasn't as tough as Jimmy Stewart. Lee Marvin, good dude.
Lots of people in usa voted for the orange insurectionist. President Bonespurs.
Great comment so true.
Bonehead service of 'cameo' in 'Home Alone:Lost In N.Y.'
He was involved with marlene
Dietrich who occupied his time
Thus preventing him from enlisting also he was married
At.the time to someone else
So.his.morals would have been questioned!
According to Marine Magazine in early 2003, John Wayne attempted to join the Marine Corps, but, was turned down due to an injury he sustained while in college. I myself served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and am a life long John Wayne fan. I am not sure of this video maker's political position, but, it is my experience going back to the 1960's those who criticize John Wayne for this are usually leftists who hate America and America's military. John Wayne inspired me when I was growing up and still does. Semper Fi to the Late John Wayne from a combat Marine.
I'm Australian and non-political.
"John Wayne attended the University of Southern California and also played on the USC football team under coach Howard Jones. A broken collarbone injury curtailed his athletic career; Wayne later noted that he was too terrified of Jones' reaction to reveal the actual cause of his injury, a bodysurfing accident. He lost his athletic scholarship, and without funds, had to leave the university." Now for the record, I don't give a crap if one is left-wing, right-wing, or just a chicken wing, however anyone who honestly, believes a "broken collarbone" suffered some 15 years earlier could cause them to fail a physical for military service, IMO, must hate truth, honesty, and the American way. Have a nice day!
A whole lot of bickering over a guy who has been dead since 79. I’m sure John Wayne gives zero foxtrot what any of us think today. We have more pressing priorities today than to worry about John Way e not serving during WWII.
I'm sorry, but as soon as you referenced Gary Wills, it hurt the credibility of your information. Wills famously wrote his book in 1992 in an attempt to run cover Bill Clinton's blatant draft dodging ("He famously wrote home to his draft board, from England, "I loathe the military" and refused to return home when his number was called.
James Olson and Randy Roberts had access to Wayne's files and did extensive interviews with Wayne's private secretary of 40 years Mary St John for their book John Wayne: American. Wayne tried multiple times to enlist in the Marine Corps and get assigned to John Ford's OSS unit. The head of Republic Pictures Herbert J Yates ensured through political connections that Wayne would be refused. First citing age, then his four dependent children and finally the injury that cost him his USC football scholarship. By the time Wayne got all that mess straightened out Ford told him not to bother enlisting, as he be doing nothing but "picking up cigarettes butts on Camp Pendleton.
As for the stories of Ford berating Wayne as a coward, Ford was famous for beating up on Wayne on set as a means to keep other actors in line. Both Henry Fonda and Robert Montgomery called Ford out on set for his treatment of Wayne. None of the men who served that Wayne later worked with thought less of Wayne for not serving-- this includes Aldo Ray, who famously disliked Wayne, but never doubted his courage and integrity. In addition to that he was friends with Louis B Puller who loathed cowardice just as much as his cousin George S Patton. He was also Ted Williams favorite actor.
With all that being said, Wayne still did his part beyond making movies which were little more than 80 minute recruiting ads. On at least one, and possibly a half dozen, USO tours he was used by the OSS as a courier to bring top secret intelligence back to the States. He was given an award by the US government, but he informed them through St John that he would not be accepting because he felt he was nothing more that a "glorified delivery boy".
As a final note, Wayne's lack of service was such a nothing burger prior to 1992 that it wasn't mentioned in Walter Cronkite's backhanded and insulting obituary on CBS Evening News (which can be found on RUclips).
Hope this helps.
Just one of the references. I tried to be balanced. I don't care that he didn't serve but it makes for an interesting topic.
I don’t have an opinion about this, I just don’t disagree with John Ford.
He wasn’t a draft dodger. The studio’s ran interference to keep him out of the military. The government also thought he would do better making propaganda movies.
No, Clark Gable was a Captain in the Air Corps, Captains don’t work as an air gunners. He was sent to Europe by General Hap Arnold to film aerial gunners in combat. His real job was to make films for the Air Corps not fly missions as an air gunner. Any gunning he did was voluntary.
Other actors like Reagan also made films. If John Wayne did join he would have made training films. He would have been too old for the infantry.
During combat if someone was wounded, the 2nd pilot would take over a machine gun if need be.
I'm a Marine 69-73, Wayne couldn't play football at USC because of bad knee. Only thing you need to know. His sin was he was a very vocal Republican
So he had a bad knee, flat feet and asthma. He was in pretty bad shape for a young guy.
What a load of shite
A director by the name of Ford eagerly rubbed Wayne's nose in his draft dodger status to every WW2 vet they worked with.
Really? What’s inaccurate?
@etsidan7003 Wayne acted tough, he wasn't. He couldn't take it in the real world of real men.
would have his aged really been a excuse? my great uncle served as infantry in ww2 through the North African campaign Italian campaign and stayed on till the end of the war, even after being wounded at Monte Cassino, he was 39 when he left New Zealand to fight the war, however my granddad stayed home as he ran the family farm and the sole bread winner for the family, it was either he goes or my great uncle, and my great uncle went because he had no kids.... My granddad on my mums side however thought people like John Wayne were essentially "Poser's", he served as home guard and naval reserve in England during WW2, post the war when he was serving age (he attempted to lie about his age to go fight multiple time but his mum would found out and drag him back to the recruitment office and say hes only 15/16) he joined the Indian army signal corps and commissioned (Indian Army still being part of the empire at the time) then when the Korean war came round, end up joining the Australian Infantry as a Plt commander (3rd or 5th RAR, whatever Regiment was based in the north) and served a year in Korea seeing heavy combat. So my opinion, John Wayne chose fame, fortune and blonde booty over serving his country, thats my opinion though, I talked about my family as an example of men who did everything they could to make sure they served and unfortunately John Wayne didn't
Thanks for your post.
He played the overbearing bully forcing cowardly subordinates into line, mmm?
He fought in every war but a real one.
Actually he was in the Cold War when Joseph Stalin sent agents to take him out, yet knowing they were coming for him (FBI warned him) they almost got him while doing a film in the early 1950s. He had that much of an affect on patriotism in the USA. Next, it was Mao's turn to try and get him and they failed. So not many people know this. Now you know.
@@user-tp1bi6of3v LOL!
@@user-tp1bi6of3v "Be on the lookout for Communist Chinks, Duke!"
Of course. Everyone else served asked Jimmy Stewart
Why don’t you discuss this with his children. This guy’s been dead for 40 years and still they try to tear him down. What a pity.
Yes I am sure his children will discuss this subject with some random on RUclips. Its a great discussion point and most people have been fair in their views.
Really? This man was not a coward
At least he didn't play one in the movies.
Yea he acted like a badass. He’s a draft dodger
@ryanmarquez9404 wrong
@@ryanmarquez9404you suck
Wayne was no limp-wristed pretty-boy Hollywood actor; he had PLENTY of back alley scraps (many alcohol-fueled, no doubt) in his day. Never heard of ANYONE calling him a 'draft dodger' to his face ! Even in his 50s, at 6ft 4" & 250 pounds, he was a FORMIDABLE man......
Did you do a biography about Ronald Reagan? Like John Wayne the studio he was contracted with stopped him from joining. In the end Reagan was able to do state side work with the Army.
Lieutenant Reagan was ordered to active duty on April 19, 1942. Due to his poor eyesight, he was classified for limited service only excluding him from serving overseas.
I will take a look a look at Reagan for sure.
@ Thank you!
@@edwardmurphy5371 I did not know that. I heard somehow he discovered Marylin Monroe as a worker at a war plant in CA for a photo shoot of Rosy Riveters.
It is a well-known fact that John Wayne was not allowed to serve in the military during WW2 because of the film producers he was under contract with.
As soon as the military reclassified Wayne as fit for duty and draftable, the company immediately threatened to sue the US military for violating their contract with Wayne, claiming their contract superseded and overrode any right the military had to draft eligible men for active military service.
They also threatened to sue John Wayne personally, to the point of destroying his career and ensuring he would live the rest of his life broke and destitute if he broke his contract with them to serve in the military.
Calling John Wayne a coward or questioning his not serving in the military during WW2 is unacceptable and reeks of the most vile hypocrisy.
'broke and destitute?', G.I. bill for🎓 education, pick n' shovel, ...tell studios "kiss my♿"
"Fact"? Seriously?? LOL!
Shame on you.
John Wayne. Born 1907
Died 1979 (age 72).
Age 34 in 1941.
Age 38 in 1945.
Hardly Top Drawer recruit.
The prime age for military recruitment is 18-25 years old.
If I remember correctly they drafted up to 36 during WW2. No not top drawer but he was still eligible to be drafted.
Neither was Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Tyrone Power, or any number of leading men.
It wasn’t cowardice, it was opportunistic. Which some would say is worse.
@stuglenn1112 At that age Hollywood was the best place to be in the 'front line'. No for their sake but for military efficiency.
Henry Fonda was 36 with two children on December 7, 1941 and still managed to volunteer for the Navy. He and Wayne made their choices and had to live with the consequences.
What About Steve McQueen & Clint Eastwood Not Seeing Combat in the Korea War?
I'll have a look at their stories.
@@War_And_Truth Touche' (smile)
I doubt that had John Wayne joined any branch or been drafted (they drafted into the Marines as well as Army in WW2) that he would have seen any foxhole time even if he wanted to. First of all, he was too old for most rifle units. Secondly, he had many cowboy movies out so the military probably would not like the bad press of having such a familiar face get killed in action. I recall in the late 60s when a rumor went around that "Beaver" Cleaver of "Leave it to Beaver" fame had been killed in Vietnam, even though not true, it had many people upset. Also, there was a man named Lawrence Welk killed in Vietnam and the rumor went around that he was the son of the famous bandleader, which he wasn't. I can understand John Wayne's survivor guilt, I went in the Army at 17 in 1971 and trained as a field artilleryman but despite turning in several requests to go to Vietnam, I was never taken. This has been a big disappointment to me all of these years.
Great post - thanks.
'Alice Cooper' was Eddie Haskell !!!!!!!!!!!
@@tomryan914 That was another rumor that went around. Ken Osmond played Eddie Haskell, he became a member of LAPD and was wounded while on duty in real life. Another rumor was that Eddie Haskell was portrayed by porn star John C. Holmes.
So Wayne didn't enlist because he was married and had a family and yet he was screwing Marlene Dietrich ?
As a vet, John Wayne wasn't a coward... and this is just a hit piece. He had passed the service age and he had a medical condition.
If it was a hit piece I wouldn't have put the ? after coward.
Yes.
Tin God created by, and maintained by Hollywood.
He was not suitable for service, he had fallen arches aka flat feet.
Interestingly, Captain Herbert Sobel had flat feet.
Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart served. Even Audrey Hepburn served. There are always going to be people making excuses for their favorite celebrities and politicians. Especially those who hugged flags their whole career.
Particularly the flag huggers.
Being mid thirties not the time to be joining military. When the next war comes along I assume you will be joining up to fight. Until then shut up with your blah blah blah .😅
As far as I can tell, Wayne didn't try all that hard to either join or avoid the service and instead passively let others make the decision for him. But overcompensating later by becoming a super-patriot who sought out glamorized combat roles and automatically endorsed military policy was just sad.
Robert Montgomery (navy), Tyrone Power(marines), Lew Ayres (army), Robert Taylor (navy).
@@Sarsfield-jm2bg Absolutely, as well as David Niven , Laurence Olivier, and Chrispoher Lee with us Brits, and even the late Queen of England managed to do her bit.
And Michael Caine in Korea.
This old chestnut......JW was never going to enter the army or navy......he was too old and had I think 4 children so was never going to go in......
as for Lee Marvin he started acting after WW2......and is buried in Arrlington......great man and actor....
So many people served in their 40's and died with multiple children.
robert montgomery a REAL PT BOAT MAN had to smooth things over with john ford who rode waynes ass for being a coward...
and Montgomery had an unnatural relationship with his daughter, Elizabeth....
@@stevenhall2408 defend a bigot and coward often
Wayne DID serve.......he served HIMSELF!!!!!!!!
Well, he surely had no business playing war heroes like he did. It can be excused during the war but after the war, he should have had the decency to refuse the roles.
Overcompensating later by becoming a super-patriot who sought out glamorized combat roles and automatically endorsed US military policy was just sad.
A-1 😂 X-😢
Stupid. I dont want a guy in my section who can't ruck with a full ruck because he formerly broke his clavicle.
John Wayne is the greatest actor Hollywood has ever had and Jimmy stewart
I like most of the W&T videos but this one was unnecessary.
It was very needed.
A lot of people asked for it.
Have you done Tyrone Power yet?
No
NO//// HE WAS A GREAT ACTOR///SOME PEOPLE HAVE OTHER JOBS THAN FIGHTING//FACTORY WORKERS//DRIVERS ETC
John Wayne was 4f He got hurt playing football for USC That's why he walked funny!
Cite any documentation that he was ever rated 4-F. He was classified 3-A at the start of the war and later 2-A.
He broke a collarbone whilst at USC, and that impaired his walking ability?? LOL
coward and hypocrite, always so gung ho in politics, but too gutless to put his career on the line
Great video. Keep up the great work. 👍
This is misleading click bait.
Wayne was 34 yrs old, and married with a few kids in 1941. he was exempted from draft.
and to be honest, if he had been drafted he would not have done much more than the USO shows he did do in pacific theater.
could he have volunteered? I suppose so.
but he's not a draft dodger.
Personally, I think he regretted not volunteering for military. He did participate in USO shows though; which is what we probably would have expected.
I covered all of that in the video.
@War_And_Truth it's still click bait. Wayne's service or lack of service has been documented for many decades, literally since ww2.
@@michaelgross7016 Mate click bait is putting up a title or thumbnail which is misleading or has nothing to do with the video. The title might have been not fair (I have changed it) but its not click bait.
@War_And_Truth suggesting Wayne at 34 yrs old was a coward (or could have been a coward) in the title is click bait. It's laughable. That sort of grabs one's attention and it's complete bunk. Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart both volunteered for service....both army air corps. Gable in particular had trouble with the studios. They owned actors back then and didn't want him to volunteer.
Pretty sure the studios leaned on Wayne too. Wayne prob had 100 films by 1941 but wasn't a superstar until the late 1930s, and his star was rising.....pretty sure the studios didn't want him away in the military. NOT A COWARD.
A non click bait, but accurate title would be a rather dull "John Wayne During WW2"
@@michaelgross7016 A lot of people call him a coward and a lot of people say he wasn't. Thus the title and thumbnail. Its asking the question.
Yes. Just a wannabe tough guy. Pathetic.
Another BS video
Why do you keep watching? lol
John Wayne fully supported WW2 and saved the Navy’s Fightin Seabees with the making of the “Fightin Seabees”
General Stewart said that JohN Wayne could do more for the war effort from the homefront. So I will go with what his contemporaries said instead of this pinko nonsense
Lol You sound like Morty Seinfeld.
@ lol also great channel!
A Republic should not draft men to fight it's wars.
That's what dictatorships do.
A Republic lays out the case for service to it's people, and lets them decide if a war is worth fighting.
He became a "super patriot" after the war, which would explain his participation in the 1968 Viet Nam flick "Green Berets." The war was becoming very unpopular at home, the draft requirements were being lowered to keep the number of "boots on the ground" up and McNamara / Kissinger stood by their mathematical calculations that America could win the war if they killed more than they lost. Unfortunately the media and the guys who rotated home told a different story.
His rational for doing the movie was to boost moral and support for the troops, but in Viet Nam, but unlike WW2, there were no cheering, adoring crowds welcoming liberating American soldiers. It was war of body counts, plain and simple.
As for the movie, it was a cheesy film full of over acting, especially from Wayne. In my opinion.
All a myth.
He just leeched off other people’s bravery.