On May 19, 7:56 pm, "Jim Beaver" wrote:
An online article suggests, without citation or reference, that the U.S.
Marine Corps nicknamed its Apache helicopter (through three models) as "The
Duke," presumably in honor of actor John Wayne.

I cannot find corroboration for this statement in web searches. Has anyone
here with either first-hand or citable evidence to support it ever heard
this story?

Jim Beaver

Is this the article you're talking about?

http://www.pleonast.com/user/jungleman

If you scroll down to the John Wayne part, you get to this:

"The Marine Corp named three models of their prototype Apache
Helicopter "The Duke". "