who died today in 1979. Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne. He also said "Courage is being scared to death..and saddling up anyway." and "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid". I don't think he did a single movie I didn't like but my personal favorite was "The Horse Soldiers". RIP "Duke".
who died today in 1979. Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne. He also said "Courage is being scared to death..and saddling up anyway." and "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid". I don't think he did a single movie I didn't like but my personal favorite was "The Horse Soldiers". RIP "Duke".
Was this necessary? When we watch his movies, we're being reminded that he was great at his chosen profession, why isn't this enough of a reason to celebrate his memory? We all have our foibles.
who died today in 1979. Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne. He also said "Courage is being scared to death..and saddling up anyway." and "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid". I don't think he did a single movie I didn't like but my personal favorite was "The Horse Soldiers". RIP "Duke".
Well, he tried to join the navy but was denied. He played football at USC in 1924, under a scholarship, but broke his collar bone and quit (body surfing). He was 34 when the Germans bombed Pearl so was exempt (as well as having a kid and being having deferment for that). He also tried to join the OSS (today's CIA).
That's well said, Jim. His military status has been subject to debate over the years and some recent information has put it in a more favorable light, but that aside, he was a very popular actor and by most accounts, a gifted one.
Affordable. Wtf. Sorry, "the new board" has me writing on my phone. Too old for this $h!/$. I meant excusable
who died today in 1979. Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne. He also said "Courage is being scared to death..and saddling up anyway." and "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid". I don't think he did a single movie I didn't like but my personal favorite was "The Horse Soldiers". RIP "Duke".
I like many of his movies and think he was an underrated actor. The problem is it is an image based on false assumptions and many people try to make it more than that. He was not a hero, but only played one. People pretend to confuse the Sands of Iowa Jima with reality. Many WWII vets at the time were very scornful of Wayne and his image. When he became politically outspoken many embraced him as some kind of real symbol for their own purposes. Sort of like Clint Eastwood, who was drafted but accused of avoiding combat by romancing an officer's daughter.
It is clear he did not serve. The question is why? As I indicated, there has been much debate about his military status over the years and more recent documents found in the National Archives, and elsewhere, reflect more favorably upon his efforts to serve and the reasons he did not. That said, I am not going to get into a debate about this. Some will believe he dodged the draft, just as some believe Bill Clinton did. I will just ask people to review all sides of the arguments in both cases and make their own decision.
who died today in 1979. Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne. He also said "Courage is being scared to death..and saddling up anyway." and "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid". I don't think he did a single movie I didn't like but my personal favorite was "The Horse Soldiers". RIP "Duke".
I did not call him a hero, or a military icon. He was neither. I called him an American icon and he was.
He was 34 and not eligible for the draft. He could have enlisted, in fact tried to join the navy in the 20s. He could have enlisted but was married with a child.
OK, he is an icon to you and some others. Not to the war vets who booed him when he visited a hospital. His war movies, from Iwo to Green Berets treated war look like child's play in which there was no PTSD and America was always 100% right. Actually, his westerns were much much better.
There is also evidence in the National Archives of his efforts to join the O.S.S. (today's C.I.A). Like a lot of issues, whatever position you take on his military status, there is evidence to support it. The last thing I expected when I noted his death was a debate about his military service, but given the nature of this Board, I should have expected it. Not much can be posted here anymore that is not subject to attack.
Clearly we disagree about who is an "American icon". By most definitions, Oprah is an American icon. So is Andy Warhol. Neither served in the military. This "debate" has gotten absurd. I will say again, John Wayne is an American Icon. Icon does not equate to military service or to being a hero. If you disagree, so be it.
OK if you accept that "icon" isn't always a compliment, as your post implies it is - not to compare with an actor and to take an extreme, Hitler was a German icon. Wayne was an icon of those who favor simple-minded blind machismo nationalism.
I didn't read past your 1st line because it is a mischaracterization of what I posted. I did not say "icon" was always a compliment, nor did I imply as much. I used the word properly and any dictionary will support my usage. Whether you like him or not, John Wayne was an American icon. That is my final word to you on this subject.
who died today in 1979. Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne. He also said "Courage is being scared to death..and saddling up anyway." and "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid". I don't think he did a single movie I didn't like but my personal favorite was "The Horse Soldiers". RIP "Duke".
I think the perfect response to the question in the subject line: "If everything isn't black and white, I say 'Why the hell not?'" is contained in another quote from the post: "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid".who died today in 1979. Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne. He also said "Courage is being scared to death..and saddling up anyway." and "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid". I don't think he did a single movie I didn't like but my personal favorite was "The Horse Soldiers". RIP "Duke".
Typical of those who buy into the phony image and are immune to facts about their "hero":
