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Wiz Imp

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26. Many Hollywood stars older than Wayne willingly served in WWII

Sun Mar 15, 2026, 05:11 PM

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Last edited Sun Mar 15, 2026, 05:55 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2819281/John-Wayne-DID-dodge-draft-continue-torrid-affair-sexy-German-actress-Marlene-Dietrich-best-lay-ve-new-book-reveals.html

Henry Fonda had enlisted in the navy at 37. Jimmy Stewart tried to enlist at age 33 but was underweight. He put aside his Academy Award winning career and went on a diet to fatten up that included candy, beer and bananas. He reached the minimum weight and proudly flew dozens of missions over Germany.

Cowboy singing star Gene Autry joined the Army Air Corps. Tyrone Power went into the Marines. Robert Montgomery joined the army along with Clark Gable. Ronald Reagan also signed up but his lousy eyesight kept him from going overseas.

Even Hollywood’s ‘Beverly Hills Brits’ faced extradition and imprisonment in Britain if they didn’t head home to do their duty.

Any story that Wayne had tried to enlist was a complete fabrication, the author insists. ‘Wayne never tried to enlist and never ‘pleaded’ with John Ford to get him into the navy,’ writes the author.

"The author" refers to Marc Eliot, author of the biography "American Titan: Searching for John Wayne"

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Wayne wasnt a draft dodger. Thats an old urban legend. Callie1979 Sunday #11

World War II Marines had a different view. From author William Manchester: rsdsharp Sunday #13

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Thank you for posting this. Stewart was less than a year younger than Wayne. rsdsharp Sunday #32

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Not an urban legend at all. He was not "technically" or "legally" a draft dodger Wiz Imp Sunday #14

Ford had letters from Wayne asking him to let him enlist in his unit. Callie1979 Sunday #20

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