John Wayne was always a favorite at our home growing up. I guess it was because my mother had always been a big fan of his. It may have been because she was proud of the fact that his wife at the time was Peruvian Pilar Pallette Wayne. It may have also been because my Chinese grandfather, who as a young boy sought refuge in Peru while escaping from Communist China, actually had the privilege one day of showing John Wayne around his property in Peru. My grandfather owned a large lumber mill and I believe that is where the "Duke" visited.
As much as I would like to believe it was the Peruvian connections that made John Wayne a favorite of our family, I have to admit it was the story that my brothers and sisters heard very often...that John Wayne converted to Catholicism on his death bed. Interestingly enough, that same Chinese grandfather, who had the privilege of spending a day with John Wayne and who came from a Buddhist background, also converted to Catholicism on his deathbed.
These memories came tumbling on as I read the following articles:
John Wayne "I'm a Cardiac Catholic"
and
American Catholic - John Wayne Cardiac Catholic
