Was it true, or only a rumor, that John Wayne (actor, of course)was related to him? I know that was only his professional name, but I think ‘Wayne’ was part of his real name too? I know one of his sons had the last name ‘Wayne’ also, so I believe they both could be related. I could be wrong, do you know?
“December 20th 1943 — (United States) The U.S. Navy establishes a Naval Air Training Command, at Pensacola, Florida. (Pacific) Admiral Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific, issues final plans for the invasion of the Marshalls. The priorities: bombing Maloelap, Mille, and Wotje to neutralize their effectiveness; the destruction of Eniwetok Kusaie by Air; and the capture of Kwajalein Atoll. (Pacific-New Guinea) Allied plans for the further isolation of Rabaul now include the assault of Green Island as the next step toward total isolation. This decision is made at a meeting held at Port Moresby. In other activity, the 2nd Battalion, 158th Regiment, commanded by Lt. Colonel Fred Stofft is deployed in Finschhafen, guarding Headquarters, however, Company G is dispatched to Arawe to bolster the attack. A group of Americans (U.S.O.) had been visiting the troops and one man, Marion Morrison, requests permission to go to the front lines, however, Colonel Stofft, informs his old High School classmate that the answer is no! He notes: “HE DIDN’T KNOW IF HE WAS GOING TO MAKE A CAREER OF THE ARMY ... BUT HE WAS DAMNED IF HE WOULD SEE IT SHOT DOWN BY BEING THE MAN WHO SENT JOHN WAYNE TO HIS DEATH.”
Source Portrait of the Stars and Stripes volume II