He wasn't a great American, but he played one in the movies.
Actually, I know nothing about Mr Wayne's off-screen persona, for all I know he was a perfectly wonderful man in private life. But it's not his off-screen persona that is treated as a role model, is it?
I do know a little about the modern day John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, a man of many talents besides acting (like jazz musician and film director) and a civic-minded community activist, local politician and businessman. But it's his Dirty Harry Callaghan character who is the real role model.
Who says we live in an age with no heroes?