Our charity recently had a number of autograph and memorabilia items made available for fundraising purposes. There are a few pieces on which I would like to get extra feedback before selling. One is this John Wayne candid photo with a very small signature in the bottom right corner. The 3.5 x 4.5 photo itself is clearly vintage, with a Kodak(?) processing number on the back. Some internet research suggests this picture may have been taken in early 1945 during the filming of "They Were Expendable", on an island about 20 minutes away from Miami. Other photos of Wayne from that movie show a very similar uniform, cap, belt, etc.

I don't think the young woman in the photo is a cast member; she is perhaps one of a number of WAVES and other female service members stationed in the area who were regularly invited out to the set to meet the stars.

The "John Wayne" in the corner appears to be in ball point pen, which would rule out early 1945. And it is clearly written "Jhon".

So what do you think? A notation written by the young lady later for her photo album?