Wayne conducted business on the Wild Goose, chartered or loaned it out to others, and took family and friends vacationing on it routinely until close to the end of his life. His papers show the Wild Goose in almost constant use through 1966 and 1967, for example. He developed the story for The Green Berets during regular meetings on the boat during those years, and he took out friends ranging from Jack Valenti and Lynda Bird Johnson to Dean Martin and Barry Goldwater, among others.

Wild Goose

The Wild Goose was the central hub of John Wayne’s voracious social life with family and friends. They suggest the “real” John Wayne emerged when he was on it. This is the gregarious and fun-loving person who lingers most strongly in the memories of his surviving loved ones.