Another Wednesday Pic
- Thread starter MadJack
- Start date
- Feb 23, 2005
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John Wayne did not illegally ?dodge? the draft, but he never took direct positive action toward enlistment, Olson and Roberts say in their book. They say he saw the war as a threat to his newly achieved stardom.
While many established stars rushed to sign up for military service. Wayne ignored public pressure to enlist, and was exempted from service due to his age (34 at the time of Pearl Harbor) and family status, Olson and Roberts say.
He inquired about enlisting, but never followed up, Olson and Roberts say. He repeatedly wrote to John Ford, asking to join Ford?s military unit, but consistently postponed it until ?after he finished one more film.?
In May, 1944, less than a month before D-Day, Wayne was reclassified as 1-A (draft eligible), but Republic Studio obtained another 2-A deferment, Olson and Roberts say, for ?support of national health, safety, or interest.? He remained 2-A until the war?s end.
A "Great American." :sadwave:
To me actors like Gene Hackman and Harvey Keitel who actually joined the marines at age 16 regardless of the era makes me respect their toughness way more then Wayne's. Still, I have enjoyed a few of his movies over the years. Personal favorite being El Dorado.
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- Nov 13, 2009
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mIUk08iYZKE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The guy was good at acting tough, which led him to make some good movies. When his country was facing one of its darkest hours though, he showed his true colors. Chickenshit, man. To say he was a "Great American" is like spitting on the graves of the over 400,000 US soldiers who gave their lives in WWII.
John Wayne did not illegally ?dodge? the draft, but he never took direct positive action toward enlistment, Olson and Roberts say in their book. They say he saw the war as a threat to his newly achieved stardom.
While many established stars rushed to sign up for military service. Wayne ignored public pressure to enlist, and was exempted from service due to his age (34 at the time of Pearl Harbor) and family status, Olson and Roberts say.
He inquired about enlisting, but never followed up, Olson and Roberts say. He repeatedly wrote to John Ford, asking to join Ford?s military unit, but consistently postponed it until ?after he finished one more film.?
In May, 1944, less than a month before D-Day, Wayne was reclassified as 1-A (draft eligible), but Republic Studio obtained another 2-A deferment, Olson and Roberts say, for ?support of national health, safety, or interest.? He remained 2-A until the war?s end.
A "Great American." :sadwave:
I didn't join the military, does that make me a bad American?
Neither did I, but then again our country hasn't been involved in a war that we needed to fight to since WWII (with the possible exception of Afghanistan, which is an unwinnable war). During one of the darkest hours in the history of the world, your "Great American" stayed on the sidelines while most were chomping at the bit to fight against tyranny. He was a pussy, clear and simple.
- Feb 26, 2001
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- Feb 26, 2001
- 13,593
- 164
- 63
Not really. Ali was taking a stand against the war. Wayne pretended like he wanted to fight and found ways not to fight. I wasn't around then so there might be more to it but that is a big difference.
Umm, how in the world can you compare Vietnam and WWII? :facepalm:
I thought at this point even Republicans acknowledged that we had no business in Vietnam. Wow, just wow.
