Quote:
Originally Posted by kindlekitten
gee, funny how it doesn't mention that he tried to get into the Naval Academy and was rejected (LONG before WWII), then was injured while at USC ending not only his football career, but any realistic military aspirations. by the time WWII DID come around he was a contract actor that the studio would not release even though he asked to be let go. he was able, however to perform some services for the OSS. oh, and he was 34 by that time. not exactly a kid of draft age. his lack of military service pained him his entire life and it wasn't for lack of trying
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He was of Draft age. The Selective Service Act of 1940 was amended to require that all men 18 to 65 register for the draft and men 18 to 45 be ready to serve.
Wayne did lose his football scholarship at USC due to an injury which had nothing to do with football. Nevertheless the Draft board did classify him 1A and he would have been called if Republic Pictures did not intercede on his behalf and obtain a 2A classification. This is the same classification that firefighters, police and other people with important jobs receive.
This being The Memorial Day Holiday, I would rather not be discussing the merits of The Duke as a "would be" national role model. I think it's time to give thought to real heroes rather than celluloid ones. This is my last post on this thread.