John Wayne was exempt as being older, married and the sole support of his children.
HOWEVER, in a document kept in a safe place in the National Archives, College Park, Md., is Wayne’s application to the OSS (Office of Special Services) in which he offered to serve them any way he could be used.
Under skills, he wrote: Horse riding, but that he did fall off a lot.
Sometimes a person can serve both on the home-front for moral purposes that greatly help the civilians to get through a war, as well as visiting the frontlines to show support for the troops (Bob Hope and his crew, including Jerry Cologna). Benny Goodman died while entertaining the troops in Europe. Plane went down. Believe it was never found.
Wayne, and George “Sulu” Takei, both went to SVN during the war to get a good look at the landscape and military posts of that country, for their filming of “The Green Beret” in the Philippines.
A “rumor” I heard from some top people while I was in Vietnam said that when Wayne was out one day visiting places, he heard what he thought was sniper fire. He then grabbed an M 16 and blasted the nearby trees.
Never got it confirmed but it made us laugh because if it were true, and photographed, that photo would rival that of the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima (which my father-in-law saw in person - 75th JASCO, USA).
Right now you probably couldn’t really find a “John Wayne” in Hollywood though some of the liberals are really decent supporters of our troops.
Glenn Miller, not Benny Goodman.
Thanks very much for all the good info. and perspective.
Wayne certainly contributed to the war effort of WW II, Korea and VN. I participated in the last of the three and we knew we had his support.
Bruce Willis attempted to enlist after 9/11 but was rejected due to age.
There are also some musical talents who have spent their time in uniform:
Orville Burrel (aka "Shaggy") served in the USMC in Desert Storm.
I went to ROTC Advanced Camp at Ft. Bragg and CTLT in Germany with Shawn Mullins who received a reserve commission.