[RJCogburn]

The one nick in his armor was putting career above the country he loved during World War II. He shirked a call to arms when other actors such as Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, Henry Fonda and Tyrone Power entered the service.

That is, at best,unclear, and "shirked" is certainly a perjorative term. Other biographies claim he was not accepted due to a prior knee problem, age, family. I do not know what is correct.

[LS]

The best biography is "John Wayne, American," by James Olsen and another author.

Wayne got a deferment based on the fact that he had several kids.

This book, while written by a couple of liberals, is fair and well-written. Wayne, like many successful men, paid a price for fame and fortune with several marriages and estrangement from his children.

[pbear8]

Mr. Wayne was OSS during the war.

In the 70's he came to Aunt Marjy's house to pay a condolence call when Uncle Dick died since he was OSS as well.