Reply #15: Draft Dodger no [View All]

John Wayne always regretted not being in the service. However, his decision to not enlist was not one based on cowardice or draft dodging. As a man of 34 years of age, he was generally past the point of being a combat soldier. Secondly and more importantly, the War Department wanted to put him in what was then called a "Special Services Unit". These were not special forces, but were MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) units that did entertainment. Even actors like Clark Gable, who was a major star like Wayne at the time, mainly did PR stuff, although he did fly on one or two missions. Jimmy Stewart had the threaten to resign his commission to get an active assignment.