3. Draft dodging

Several of Wayne’s major roles showcased him as a war hero however he was never a part of the military. He was too young to be a part of the army during the first world war and by the time the US got into the second world war, he was 34 and just starting to get famous.
He had several health issues including a bad back, ear infections and his torn shoulder that killed his career as a football player. If he went through a physical he would have been stamped as unfit for service. Instead, the studio applied for him to receive a 3-A deferment (“hardship to dependents”) because he had a family.
Wayne did more for the war by being a part of movies that added an element of glamour to the military. During the war, he also worked for the OSS and spend months doing USO appearances or the troops