John Wayne’s personally owned uncorrected galley proof of the best-selling 1965 book The Green Berets, which was presented to him by the book’s author, Robin Moore. The rivet-bound proof, 7 x 12, with original plain cardstock boards contains a total of 236 pages, with the top of the first page identified as “1—Crown (14010F) ‘The Green Beret’ 11-13 TR X25 No. 11—Hank(7) 2-26.” The front board bears a “Return Requested” Crown Publishers label with the book title, author, price, and date: “THE GREEN BERETS by Robin Moore, $4.95, May.” In overall fine condition, with light edge stains to front cover and opening pages, with the first page missing its lower right corner tip.
Accompanied by a handwritten letter of provenance from Wayne’s granddaughter, Anita Swift, who states: “This galley of the book, The Green Berets, by Robin Moore…was the property of John Wayne, given to him by Robin Moore. This galley was inherited by my mother, Mary A. Wayne LaCava from her father John Wayne. I inherited this copy upon her death. My grandfather was moved to make the movie, The Green Berets, after reading this galley. He bought the rights to the book from Robin Moore for $25,000 plus 5% of the profits from the movie.” Also includes Swift’s National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation business card, which lists her on the ‘Board of Directors,’ three photos of Swift posing with the galley proof, and several newspaper clippings related to both Moore’s book and Wayne’s film.
So strong was the impression left upon Wayne after reading Moore’s galley proof that the actor withdrew from the now-classic war film The Dirty Dozen. In 1966, Wayne accepted the lead role of Major Reisman, petitioned Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for script changes, and then soon thereafter retracted his name from the project. That Moore's work resonated with Wayne is undeniable, however, it's speculated that the actor declined the role for two other reasons: in the original script, Reisman has a brief affair with a married woman whose husband is fighting overseas; and Wayne did not want to make a movie in the UK when his third wife Pilar was due to give birth in February 1966. The role of Major Reisman later famously went to actor Lee Marvin.
