12. John Wayne worked for the OSS, though what he did is unknown
Many Hollywood actors, producers, and directors served in the Second World War openly. Jimmy Stewart flew combat missions over Europe with the Eight Air Force. Clark Gable flew as a gunner on a few missions. So did Walter Matthau. During the war, John Wayne did not serve in the military, at least not on active duty. He did nothing to alter his draft status as 1A, the highest rating, but his employer did. Republic Studios threatened Wayne with a lawsuit if he walked away from his contract and worked with the Selective Service administration to ensure that their most valuable actor under contract was not subjected to the draft.
Wayne applied to join the OSS and Donovan personally approved his application. Wayne never received the approval. He did make a tour of South Pacific bases during the winter of 1943 and 1944, during which time he claimed he gathered information for the use of military intelligence and the OSS, but no records have been revealed to support his assertion. After his death, according to records in the National Archives, a document thanking Wayne for his services in the OSS, signed by Donovan, was sent to the actor. What services he was thanked for remains unknown. Wayne’s failure to engage in active military service led to criticism of the actor for the rest of his life.