John Wayne’s Wartime Absence: Patriot or Draft Dodger?

Few figures in American cinema are as closely associated with on-screen heroics as John Wayne. Yet, despite his enduring image as the embodiment of rugged patriotism, Wayne’s real-life involvement in wartime was confined to the sets of Hollywood studios. While many of his contemporaries donned uniforms and shipped out, Wayne remained in California, a fact that has fuelled decades of speculation and criticism.

Hollywood’s Leading Man and the War Effort

It’s easy to assume that someone with Wayne’s public persona would have been eager to join the armed forces. However, the reality was rather more complicated. At the time of America’s entry into the Second World War, Wayne was still establishing himself in the film industry, having only recently gained recognition for his role in ‘Stagecoach’ in 1939. He was not yet the household name he would later become, nor was he considered indispensable to national morale.

There are several theories as to why Wayne did not serve. Some suggest he feared that a lengthy absence would jeopardise his career, leaving him unable to reclaim his place in the spotlight upon returning. Others point to his personal life, including a burgeoning relationship with Marlene Dietrich, as a possible reason for his reluctance to leave Hollywood behind. Yet, perhaps the most significant factor was his age. At 34, Wayne was considered too old for frontline service, and his status as a husband and father qualified him for a 3-A family deferment, exempting him from the draft.

Attempts to Enlist and Studio Pressures

Despite the persistent rumours, there is evidence to suggest that Wayne did make efforts to participate in the war effort. He reportedly approached director John Ford on multiple occasions, expressing a desire to enlist, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

What’s more, there is even evidence that Wayne – albeit unsuccessfully – applied to join the Office of Strategic Services during wartime.

His attempts, however, were thwarted not only by bureaucratic hurdles but also by the interests of Republic Studios, who were keen to retain their leading man. The studio is said to have threatened legal action should Wayne abandon his contract to join the military, making it clear that his departure would not be tolerated.

By the time the conflict ended, Wayne had become one of the most recognisable faces in American cinema, his absence from the battlefield overshadowed by his on-screen exploits. Yet, the question of his wartime choices continued to follow him throughout his life.

Legacy, Guilt, and Public Perception

Wayne’s decision not to serve remained a source of personal regret, and some have speculated that this sense of guilt influenced his later work. Films such as ‘The Green Berets’ have been interpreted as attempts to compensate for his lack of real military experience.

There are many, many things that you can (and should) criticise John Wayne for, stretching from his countless utterly unwatchable projects to his outspoken and unapologetic belief in white supremacy, but his lack of military service is not wholly deserving of the criticism it routinely attracts.

While it is tempting to label Wayne a draft dodger, the reality is more nuanced. His patriotic image may not align perfectly with his wartime record, but the circumstances surrounding his exemption were shaped by a combination of personal, professional, and legal factors. Whatever one’s view of his politics or his films, the story of John Wayne’s wartime absence is far from straightforward.