Posted on 01/01/2003 4:40:46 PM PST by Cagey
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Joe Foss, a former South Dakota governor and World War II hero who shot down 26 enemy planes, died Wednesday. He was 87.
Foss had not regained consciousness after he suffered an apparent aneurysm last fall. He died at a hospital in Arizona, said South Dakota Gov. Bill Janklow.
A Republican, Foss served in the state Legislature for five years before becoming governor in 1955. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor as a Marine pilot during World War II. He also earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.
"I always had the attitude that every day will be a great day," Foss said in a 1987 interview. "I look forward to it like a kid in a candy store, wherever I am."
Foss was born April 17, 1915, on a farm east of Sioux Falls. He once said his love of flying dated back to his childhood when he watched pilots fly over his family's home and wave to him from the cockpit.
"I thought, 'Someday I'm gonna trade these horses for an airplane,'" he said.
He was among the most prominent World War II heroes, shooting down 26 enemy planes. He also served as a colonel in the Air Force in the Korean War.
Foss was the first commissioner of the American Football League. He also hosted the television show "The American Sportsman" on ABC and was chosen president of the National Rifle Association in 1988, serving through 1990.
No, but I wish I did!
The situation you mentioned sounds more like World War One..
My. Aren't you a charming one! Are you always so courteous?
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Fifteen of the American aces of World War Two profiled on this web site were awarded the Congresional Medal of Honor. In chronological order, here is a brief introduction to those fifteen heroes, with links to their pages and relevant sources.
It is interesting that nine of the recipients were Marines who flew in the Solomons campaign, four were Army Air Force fliers in the Pacific, and two were Navy fliers. I don't know why the Marines dominated these awards, although I'm sure that the Marines who visit this site would be willing to tell me. :) Possibly the dramatic events at Guadalcanal in the first year of the war riveted the public's attention in those days.
Nor do I know why the Pacific Theater in general dominated the award. James Howard, a Flying Tiger who served in the ETO - flying Mustangs with the 354th FG, also won the Medal of Honor; I just haven't put up an article about him yet.
Several bomber aircrew, notably B-24 Liberator crewmen who flew the Ploesti mission, also received the Medal of Honor.
In the Korean War, fighter pilots Louis Sebille, George Davis, and Thomas Hudner won the MoH. Read about Hudner's dramatic MoH mission, an attempted rescue of our first Black naval aviator.
| WWI | World War Two | Korea | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Luke Eddie Rickenbacker |
Butch O'Hare John L. Smith Robert Galer Harold Bauer Joe Foss |
Jefferson DeBlanc James Swett Ken Walsh Neel Kearby Robert Hanson |
Pappy Boyington David McCampbell Richard Bong Tommy McGuire Bill Shomo James Howard |
Thomas Hudner Louis Sebille George Davis |
One of the finest fighter pilots the Marine Corps ever produced also had one of the shortest combat careers. Lt. Col. Harold W. Bauer, aka "The Coach" or "Indian Joe" also led a Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF-212) during the Guadalcanal campaign. Among his legendary achievements was the destruction of four Val dive bombers that were attacking the destroyer McFarland on October 16, 1942.
Read the Harold Bauer article on this site, which describes The Coach's last mission and includes the text of his MoH citation.
Joe Foss was the fourth Marine squadron leader at Guadalcanal to win the Medal of Honor. He led VMF-121 in combat from October, 1942 through January, 1943, shooting down 26 planes in eight weeks of active flying. He personally led the evening air search for Col. Bauer on November 13. Joe Foss survived being shot down over The Slot and also survived a bout with malaria. He went on to a very successful post-war career, including Governor of South Dakota, President of the NRA, and President of the old American Football League.
Read the Joe Foss article on this site, which includes the text of his MoH citation.
Buy Wildcat Aces of World War 2 at Amazon.com. Highlights of the book include a profile of Joe Foss, and a wartime history of VMF-121. There are tables of Wildcat aces for: the year 1942, the squadron VMF-121, the year 1943, and the FM-2 pilots.
Jefferson DeBlanc earned the Medal of Honor for downing five Zeros in the Solomons on January 31, 1943
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of a Section of Six Fighter Planes in VMF-112, during aerial operations against enemy Japanese forces off Kolombangara Island in the Solomons Group, 31 January 1943.
Taking off with section as escort for a strike force of dive bombers and torpedo planes ordered to attack Japanese surface vessels, First Lieutenant DeBlanc led his flight directly to the target area where, at 14.000 feet. our strike force encountered a large number of Japanese Zeros protecting the enemy's surface craft. In company with the other fighters, First Lieutenant DeBlanc instantly engaged the hostile planes and aggressively countered their repeated attempts to drive off our bombers, persevering in his efforts to protect the diving planes and waging fierce combat until, picking up a call for assistance from the dive bombers under attack by enemy float planes at 1,000 feet, he broke off his engagement with the Zeros, plunged into the formation of float planes and disrupted the savage attack, enabling our dive bombers and torpedo planes to complete their runs on the Japanese surface disposition and to withdraw without further incident.
Although his escort mission was fulfilled upon the safe retirement of the bombers, First Lieutenant DeBlanc courageously remained on the scene despite a rapidly diminishing fuel supply and , boldly challenging the enemy's superior number of float planes, fought a valiant battle against terrific odds, seizing the tactical advantage and striking repeatedly to destroy three of the hostile aircraft and to disperse the remainder. Prepared to maneuver his damaged plane back to base, he had climbed aloft and set his course when he discovered two Zeros closing in behind. Undaunted, he opened fire and blasted both Zeros from the sky in short, bitterly fought action which resulted in such hopeless damage to his plane that he was forced to bail out at a perilously low altitude atop the trees on enemy-held Kolombangara. A gallant officer, a superb airman and an indomitable fighter, First Lieutenant DeBlanc had rendered decisive assistance during a critical stage of operations, and his unwavering fortitude in the face of overwhelming opposition reflects the highest credit upon himself and adds new luster to the traditions of the United States Naval Service.
My. Aren't you a charming one! Are you always so courteous?
Aw, shucks! Wuddn't nuttin' to it.
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