Editing Joe Foss

{{short description|United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient and American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Joe Foss DM-SD-03-09574.JPG
| caption             = Captain Joe Foss, U.S. Marine Corps
| office              = [[President of the National Rifle Association]]
| term_start          = 1988
| term_end            = 1990
| predecessor         = James E. Reinke
| successor           = Richard D. Riley
| office2              = Governor of South Dakota
| order2               = 20th
| term_start2          = January 6, 1955
| term_end2            = January 6, 1959
| lieutenant2          = [[L. Roy Houck]]
| predecessor2         = [[Sigurd Anderson]]
| successor2           = [[Ralph Herseth]]
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{plainlist|
* {{Marriage|June Shakstad|1942|1967|end=divorced}}
* {{Marriage|Donna Wild Hall|1967}}
}}
| birth_name          = Joseph Jacob Foss
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1915|4|17}}
| birth_place         = [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2003|1|1|1915|4|17}}
| death_place         = [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], U.S.
| resting_place       = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| occupation          = [[American Football League]] Commissioner<br />[[National Rifle Association of America|NRA]] President<br />Television broadcaster<br />Author<br />Entrepreneur<br />Spokesperson
| nickname            = "Smokey Joe", "Old Joe", "Old Foos",<ref name="Miller p. 115">Miller 1969, p. 115</ref> "Ace of Aces"
| allegiance          = United States
| branch              = [[South Dakota National Guard]] (1939–1940)<br />[[United States Marine Corps]] (1940–1946)<br />[[South Dakota Air National Guard]] (1946–1955)
| serviceyears        = 1939–1955
| rank                = [[Major (rank)|Major]] (USMC)<br />[[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] (ANG)
| unit                = [[VMFA(AW)-121|VMF-121]]<br />[[VMFA(AW)-115|VMF-115]]
| battles             = [[World War II]]
* [[Battle of Guadalcanal]]
| mawards             = [[Medal of Honor]]<br />[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<br />[[Air Medal]] (3)
}}
'''Joseph Jacob Foss''' (April 17, 1915{{snd}}January 1, 2003) was a [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Major (rank)|Major]] and a leading Marine [[Flying ace|fighter ace]] in [[World War II]]. He received the [[Medal of Honor]] in recognition of his role in air combat during the [[Guadalcanal Campaign]]. In postwar years, he was an [[Air National Guard]] [[Brigadier General]], served as the [[List of Governors of South Dakota|20th Governor of South Dakota]] (1955–1959), president of the [[National Rifle Association of America]] (NRA) and the first commissioner of the [[American Football League]]. He also was a [[television]] [[Television presenter|broadcaster]].

==Early years==
Foss was born in an unelectrified farmhouse near [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]], the oldest son of Mary Esther (née Lacey) and Frank Ole Foss. He was of Norwegian and Scottish descent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Foss Obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1417707/Joe-Foss.html |work=The Telegraph |date=January 3, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114234741/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1417707/Joe-Foss.html |archive-date=January 14, 2011 |language=en-gb}}</ref> At age 12, he visited an airfield in [[Renner, South Dakota|Renner]] to see [[Charles Lindbergh]] on tour with his aircraft, the [[Spirit of St. Louis]]. Four years later, he and his father paid $1.50 apiece to take their first aircraft ride in a [[Ford Trimotor]] at [[Black Hills Airport]] with a famed South Dakota aviator, [[Black Hills Airport|Clyde Ice]].<ref name="SDPB"/>

In March 1933, while coming back from the fields during a storm, his father was killed when he drove over a downed electrical cable and was electrocuted as he stepped out of his automobile.<ref>Bauer January 1990, p. 20.</ref> Young Foss, not yet 18 years old, pitched in with his mother and brother Cliff to continue running the family farm.<ref name="Sims p. 32"/> Farming was made difficult by dust storms, which over the next two years took its toll on crops and livestock.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

After watching a Marine Corps aerial team, led by Capt. Clayton Jerome, perform aerobatics in open-cockpit biplanes, he was determined to become a Marine aviator.<ref name="Legend"/> Foss worked at a service station to pay for books and college tuition, and to begin flight lessons from Roy Lanning, at the Sioux Skyway Airfield in 1938, scraping up $65 to pay for the instruction. His younger brother took over the management of the farm and allowed Foss to go back to school and graduate from [[Washington High School (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)|Washington High School]] in Sioux Falls. He graduated from the [[University of South Dakota]] in 1939 with a degree in business administration.<ref>{{cite news |title=WWII ace Joe Foss dies at 87: Medal of Honor recipient led a storied life |work=The Arizona Republic |date=January 2, 2003}}</ref>

While at USD, Foss and other like-minded students convinced authorities to set up a [[Civil Aeronautics Board|CAA]] flying course at the university; he built up 100 flight hours by graduation.<ref name="Sims p. 32"/> Foss paid his way through university by "bussing" tables. He joined the Sigma chapter of the [[Sigma Alpha Epsilon]] fraternity and excelled at sports in USD, fighting on the college boxing team, participating as a member of the track team and as a second-string guard on the football team.<ref name="Sims p. 32"/><ref>[http://www.nicindy.org/whos_greek/medal_of_honor_recipients "Medal of Honor recipients"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708150005/http://www.nicindy.org/whos_greek/medal_of_honor_recipients/ |date=2009-07-08 }}, nicindy.org; accessed August 3, 2011.</ref>

Foss served as a Private in the [[147th Field Artillery Regiment]], Sioux Falls, South Dakota National Guard from 1939 to 1940. By 1940, armed with a pilot certificate and a college degree, Foss hitchhiked to Minneapolis to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserves, in order to join the Naval Aviation Cadet program to become a [[United States Naval Aviator|Naval Aviator]].<ref name="Sims p. 32">Sims 1969, p. 32.</ref>

==Military career==
[[File:Foss JJ USMC.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Foss during World War II]]

===Effort to become a fighter pilot===
Foss was accepted by the Marine Corps for flight school and commissioning. After graduation from flight school at NAS [[Pensacola, Florida]] he was designated a Naval Aviator and was commissioned as a [[Second Lieutenant#United States|Second Lieutenant]], in the Marine Corps. He was then assigned as a "plowback" instructor at [[Naval Air Station Pensacola|Pensacola]] teaching Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard students to be Naval Aviators. At 27 years of age, he was considered too old to be a fighter pilot, and was instead sent to the Navy School of Photography. Upon completion of his initial assignment, he was transferred to [[VMSB-151|Marine Photographic Squadron 1]] (VMO-1) stationed at [[Naval Air Station North Island]] in [[San Diego]], California. Dissatisfied with his role in photographic reconnaissance, Foss made repeated requests to be transferred to a fighter qualification program. He checked out in [[Grumman F4F Wildcat]]s while still assigned to VMO-1, logging over 150 flight hours in June and July, 1942, and was eventually transferred to Marine Fighting Squadron 121 [[VMF-121]] as the executive officer.{{#tag:ref|Although only 27, his squadron mates gave him the unflattering nickname of "Old Foos."<ref name="Miller p. 115"/>|group=Note}} While stateside, Foss married his high school sweetheart, June Shakstad in 1942.<ref name="Bauer p. 40"/>
[[File:HendersonMarineWildcatWatercolor.jpg|thumb|Watercolor of U.S. Marine Captain Joe Foss shooting down a Zero over Guadalcanal in October 1942]]

===Guadalcanal Flying Ace===
In October 1942, VMF-121 pilots and aircraft were sent to Guadalcanal as part of [[Guadalcanal Campaign|Operation Watchtower]] to relieve [[VMA-223|VMF-223]], which had been fighting for control of the air over the island since mid-August.<ref>Jackson 1978, p. 128.</ref> On October 9, Foss and his group were catapult launched off the {{USS|Copahee|CVE-12|6}} escort carrier and flew {{convert|350|mi}} north to reach Guadalcanal.<ref>Yenne 2009, p. 100</ref> The air group, code named "Cactus", based at [[Honiara International Airport|Henderson Field]] became known as the [[Cactus Air Force]], and their presence played a pivotal role in the [[Battle of Guadalcanal]].<ref name="Miller p. xi">Miller 1969, p. xi.</ref> Foss soon gained a reputation for aggressive close-in fighter tactics and uncanny gunnery skills.<ref name="Loomis p. 94"/>{{#tag:ref|To preserve the scarce ammunition at Henderson, Foss removed one machine gun from each wing and relied on his "ability to shoot." At least four engagements were broken off when Foss ran out of ammunition.<ref name="Bauer p. 40">Bauer March 1990, p. 40.</ref>|group=Note}} Foss shot down a Japanese [[Mitsubishi Zero|Zero]] on his first combat mission on October 13, but his own F4F Wildcat was shot up as well, and with a dead engine and three more Zeros on his tail, he landed at full speed, with no flaps and minimal control on Henderson Field, barely missing a grove of palm trees.<ref name="Tillman p. 30">Tillman 1995, p. 30.</ref> On 7 November his Wildcat was again hit, and he survived a ditching in the sea off the island of [[Malaita]].<ref>Foss's flight on that memorable day is documented in [[Edward H. Sims]]' book ''Greatest Fighter Missions'', as the third chapter of that compilation.</ref>

[[File:GeigerFoss.jpg|thumb|right|Foss stands with Cactus Air Force commander MajGen [[Roy Geiger]].]]
[[Image:VMF-115 WWII.jpg|thumb|An alternate logo used by the [[VMFA-115|Marine Fighting Squadron 115]] was "... drawn by the [[Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)|Disney Studios]] (...) is exemplary of the squadron itself, and the cigar pays tribute to Major Joe Foss' ever-present '[[Stogies|stogie]]' (...) the name was chosen by popular vote."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Beyond a Dream|last=Brummell|first=Clyde Verlon|publisher=Gann Publishing Co.|year=2005|location=Portland, Oregon|pages=(from inside front cover)|quote=... drawn by the Disney Studios (...) is exemplary of the squadron itself, and the cigar pays tribute to Major Joe Foss' ever-present 'stogie' (...) the name was chosen by popular vote.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/flyingheritage/posts/10154644730418666:0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/13883518665/10154644730418666 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}{{cbignore}}</ref>|alt=|left|200x200px]]As lead pilot in his flight of eight Wildcats, the group soon became known as "Foss's Flying Circus", with two sections Foss nicknamed "Farm Boys" and "City Slickers."<ref name="Loomis p. 94">Loomis 1961, p. 94.</ref> In December 1942, Foss contracted malaria. He was sent to [[Sydney]], Australia for rehabilitation, where he met Australian ace [[Clive Caldwell|Clive "Killer" Caldwell]] and delivered some lectures on operational flying to RAF pilots, newly assigned to the theater.<ref name="Bauer p. 40"/> On January 1, 1943, Foss returned to Guadalcanal, to continue combat operations which lasted until February 9, 1943, although the Japanese attacks had waned from the height of the November 1942 crisis.<ref name="Bauer p. 80">Bauer May 1990, p. 80.</ref> In three months of sustained combat, Foss's Flying Circus had shot down 72 Japanese aircraft, including 26 credited to him.<ref name="Shores p. 61">Shores 1975, p. 61.</ref> Upon matching the record of 26 kills held by America's top World War I ace, [[Eddie Rickenbacker]], Foss was accorded the honor of becoming America's first "ace-of-aces" in World War II.<ref>Gurney 1982, p. 117.</ref> One of the Japanese he shot down was ace [[Kaname Harada]], who became a peace activist and met Foss many years later.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/06/world/asia/kaname-harada-pearl-harbor-fighter-pilot-who-became-pacifist-dies-at-99.html|title = Kaname Harada, Pearl Harbor Fighter Pilot and, Later, a Pacifist, Dies at 99|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 5 May 2016|last1 = Roberts|first1 = Sam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509223619/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/06/world/asia/kaname-harada-pearl-harbor-fighter-pilot-who-became-pacifist-dies-at-99.html|archive-date=9 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Foss returned to the United States in March 1943. On May 18, 1943, Foss received the [[Medal of Honor]] from President [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]].<ref name="Shores p. 61"/> The [[White House]] ceremony was featured in ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine, with the reluctant Captain Foss appearing on the magazine's cover.<ref>[http://www.life.com/image/51148313 "Joseph Foss – Life Magazine Cover"]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Life magazine,'' June 7, 1943 via ''life.com.'' Retrieved: August 3, 2011.</ref> He then was asked to participate in a war bond tour that stretched into 1944.<ref name="Bauer p. 80"/>

===Return to combat===
[[File:USMC-C-Aces-29.jpg|thumb|L–R (foreground) Maj. Joe Foss, Maj. Marion Carl and advisor Charles Lindbergh in South Pacific, May 1944]]
In February 1944, Foss returned to the Pacific theater to lead [[VMFA-115|VMF-115]], flying the [[Vought F4U Corsair|F4U Corsair]]. VMF-115 was based in the combat zone around [[Emirau Airport|Emirau]], St. Mathias Group in 1944. It was during this second tour that Foss met and became friends with fellow Marine fighter ace [[Marion Carl]]. He also had an opportunity to meet and fly with his boyhood idol, [[Charles Lindbergh]], who was on assignment touring the South Pacific as an aviation consultant. After eight months of operational flying but no opportunities to increase his wartime score, Foss finished his combat service as one of America's top scoring pilots.<ref>[http://www.joefoss.com/blog/19-freedom/117-joes-jokers "The Story of Joe's Jokers."] ''The Joe Foss Institute.'' Retrieved: August 4, 2011.</ref>

Foss again contracted malaria, and was sent home to the [[Klamath Falls, Oregon]] Rehabilitation Center. {{#tag:ref|Foss had lost considerable weight during 20 bouts of malaria until successful treatment in the United States brought him back to health. He only weighed 140 lbs when he entered rehabilitation.<ref name="Bauer p. 82"/>|group=Note}}In February 1945, he became operations and training officer at the [[Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara]], California.<ref>[http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Foss_JJ.htm "Brigadier General Joseph Jacob Foss, ANG (Deceased)."]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''usmc.mil.'' Retrieved: August 3, 2011.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Foss gained fame in the service and later, in civilian life, as a "cigar-smoking", Stetson hatted, larger-than-life boisterous character.<ref name="Legend">{{cite web |title=Joseph Jacob Foss |url=http://www.historicalmilitaria.com/Obituaries/Foss.html |website=Historical Militaria |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030304112609/http://www.historicalmilitaria.com/Obituaries/Foss.html |archive-date=March 4, 2003 |language=en |date=1 January 2003 |url-status=live}}</ref>|group=Note}}

==Postwar==

===Air National Guard===
In August 1945, Foss was released to inactive duty and opened ''Joe Foss Flying Service'', charter flying service and flight instruction school in Sioux Falls, that eventually grew into a 35-aircraft operation. With a friend, Duane "Duke" Corning, he later owned a Packard car dealership in the town.<ref>Brokaw 1998, p. 119.</ref>

In October 1945, Foss was ordered to appear at Navy Day ceremonies in four cities there and was finally relieved from active duty in December 1945 but was retained in the Marine Corps Reserve on inactive duty until 1947. In 1946, Foss was appointed a [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] in the South Dakota Air National Guard and instructed to form the [[South Dakota Air National Guard]], becoming the Commanding Officer for the Guard's [[175th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]]. During the unit's formative years, Foss was actively involved in administration and flying with the squadron, even becoming a member of their North American P-51 Mustang air demonstration team.<ref>[http://mva.sd.gov/museum_114th.html "114th Fighter Wing, South Dakota Air National Guard."] ''South Dakota Department of the Military and Department of Veterans Affairs.'' Retrieved: August 4, 2011.</ref> During the [[Korean War]], Foss, then a [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], was called to active duty with the [[United States Air Force]], relinquishing command of the 175th Squadron, and served as a Director of Operations and Training for the Central Air Defense Command; he eventually reached the rank of [[Brigadier General (United States)|Brigadier General]].<ref name="Century">[http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/WW2/aces/Joseph%20Foss.htm "Joe Foss"] ''Century of Flight,'' 2003. Retrieved: August 4, 2011.</ref>

===Political career===
[[File:Joe Foss official portrait as Governor.jpg|thumb|150px|Foss as Governor, 1955]]
Campaigning from the cockpit of a light aircraft, Foss served two elected terms as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] representative in the [[South Dakota State Legislature|South Dakota legislature]] and, beginning in 1955, at age 39, as the state's youngest [[Governor of South Dakota|governor]].<ref name="Miller p. 212">Miller 1969, p. 212.</ref> During his tenure as governor, he accompanied [[Tom Brokaw]], then a [[High school (North America)|high school]] student and Governor of South Dakota [[American Legion]] [[Boys/Girls State|Boys State]], to [[New York City]] for a joint appearance on ''Two for the Money'', a [[television game show]], which featured Foss because of his wartime celebrity. {{#tag:ref|Both Brokaw and Foss each won $612.|group=Note}} Foss had previously appeared on the long-running game show ''[[What's My Line]]'' on May 1, 1955. {{#tag: ref|Foss signed in using his middle name, Jacob, in a further effort to stump the panel. It was revealed through the panel's questioning that Foss had been in Las Vegas attending a demonstration at the Nevada Test Site where he met ''[[What's My Line]]'' host John Daly.|group=Note}}

In 1958, Foss unsuccessfully sought a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], having been defeated by another wartime pilot hero, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[George McGovern]]. Foss tried to re-enter politics in 1962 in a campaign to succeed [[Francis H. Case|Sen. Francis Case]], who died in office. Foss and several other contenders lost to [[Joseph H. Bottum]], who filled out Case's term.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

==Later careers==
===American Football League===
After serving as governor, Foss spent a short time working for [[Raven Industries]] before becoming the first Commissioner of the newly created [[American Football League]] in 1959. He oversaw the emergence of the league as the genesis of modern professional football. During the next seven years, Foss helped expand the league and made lucrative television deals, including the initial five-year, $10.6 million contract with [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in 1960 to broadcast AFL games. The next contract was also for five years, but with [[NFL on NBC|NBC]] for a substantially greater $36 million, starting in [[1965 American Football League season|1965]].<ref name="uptvrts">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BusxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5992%2C4622151 "AFL, NBC ink pact"], ''Eugene Register-Guard'', January 29, 1964, p. 3B.</ref><ref name="aflex66">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jZcrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vPQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5397%2C2441193 "American Football League may be expanded in 1966."] ''Nashua Telegraph'', May 23, 1964, p. 8.</ref>

Foss stepped aside as commissioner in April [[1966 American Football League season|1966]],<ref name="fqpaafcz">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z4tRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_hAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5072%2C1524235 "Foss quits $50,000 post as AFL czar."] ''Milwaukee Sentinel'', April 8, 1966, pg. 2, part 2.</ref> two months before the historic agreement that led to the [[AFL-NFL merger|merger]] of AFL and [[National Football League|NFL]] and the creation of the [[Super Bowl]].<ref name="Bernstein">Bernstein, Adam. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A3931-2003Jan2&notFound=true "WWII Ace, SD Gov. Joe Foss Dies; Also Headed Football League, NRA."]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''Washington Post,'' January 3, 2003. Retrieved: February 22, 2016.</ref> [[Al Davis]] succeeded him,<ref name="apdvascz">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0ItRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_hAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5166%2C1877683 "Appoint Davis as AFL czar"], ''Milwaukee Sentinel'', April 9, 1966, pg. 1, part 2.</ref> but disagreed with the merger and resigned after {{frac|3|1|2}} months. [[Milt Woodard]], the assistant commissioner under Foss, was named to the new office of president of the AFL in July and served through the league's final season in [[1969 American Football League season|1969]].<ref name="widoiafl">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KHhQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VBEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4057%2C4872186 "Woodard in, Davis out in AFL"], ''Milwaukee Sentinel'', July 26, 1966, pg. 2, part 2.</ref>

===Television career===
Drawing on a lifelong love of hunting and the outdoors, Foss hosted [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[television]]'s ''[[The American Sportsman]]'' from 1964 to 1967, which took him around the world for hunting and fishing excursions. He then hosted and produced his own [[television syndication|syndicated]] outdoors TV series, ''The Outdoorsman: Joe Foss'', from 1967 to 1974. In 1972, he also began a six-year stint as Director of Public Affairs for [[KLM|KLM Royal Dutch Airlines]].<ref name="Bernstein"/>

===National Rifle Association===
Starting in 1988, Foss was elected to two consecutive one-year terms as president of the [[National Rifle Association of America]].<ref name="Legend"/> In his later years he maintained a rigorous speaking schedule and spoke out for conservative causes on what he considered a weakening of gun owners' rights. He was portrayed on the cover of the 29 January 1990 issue of ''[[Time Magazine]]'' wearing his trademark [[Stetson]] hat and holding a revolver.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=TIME Magazine Cover: Joe Foss |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0%2C16641%2C19900129%2C00.html |magazine=TIME |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025034010/http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19900129,00.html |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |date=July 29, 1990 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Philanthropy===
[[File:President John F. Kennedy Meets with Representatives of the Easter Seal Campaign (02).jpg|thumb|Easter Seal Twins, Paula and Patricia Webber (Sumter, South Carolina); National Easter Seal Chairman Art Linkletter; President [[John F. Kennedy]]; President of the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Joseph Foss; Governor of South Carolina [[Ernest Hollings]]. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C. in 1961.]]
Foss, who had a daughter with cerebral palsy, served as President of the [[Easter Seals (U.S.)|National Society of Crippled Children and Adults]].<ref name="Bernstein"/> Foss's other charities included the Easter Seals campaign, [[Campus Crusade for Christ]], and an Arizona program for disadvantaged youths.

===The Joe Foss Institute===
In 2001, Foss and his second wife, "Didi,"{{#tag:ref|Foss married Donna Wild Foss, known as "Didi" in 1967.<ref>Harriman, Peter. [http://www.mastermason.com/elriadclowns/foss_obit.htm "S.D. loses legend, American hero."] ''Argus Leader,'' January 2, 2003. Retrieved: August 3. 2011.</ref>|group=Note}} founded the [[Joe Foss Institute]], a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The institute works with veterans and educators around the United States to educate the nation's youth on history and civics, and to inspire them to become informed and engaged citizens.<ref>D'Amico, Diane. [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/press/article_1633471e-ed50-11df-b38c-001cc4c002e0.html "Education Writer."] ''Press of Atlantic City'', December 10, 2010. Retrieved: February 22, 2016.</ref> Through classroom presentations, curriculum and scholarships, the Joe Foss Institute has served more than 1.35 million children, as of June 2014, nationwide. Currently, the institute offers three primary programs; Veterans Inspiring Patriotism (VIP), You are America Civics Series and scholarship contests which run year-round. Foss did many of these school visits himself, speaking to children of all ages about service, responsibility, patriotism, integrity and commitment.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130516162721/http://www.joefossinstitute.org/ "Home: The Joe FossInstitute."]}} ''The Joe Foss Institute.'' Retrieved: August 4, 2011.</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Joe-foss-1990s-photo.jpg|thumb|left|Joe Foss, c. 1990]] -->

===Other honors and recognition===
Foss co-authored or was the subject of three books including the wartime ''Joe Foss: Flying Marine'' (with Walter Simmons); ''Top Guns'' (with Matthew Brennan); and ''A Proud American'' by his wife, Donna Wild Foss. Foss also provided the foreword to ''Above and Beyond: the Aviation Medals of Honor'' by [[Barrett Tillman]], and was profiled in Tom Brokaw's 1998 book about World War II and its warriors, ''[[The Greatest Generation (book)|The Greatest Generation]]''. Brokaw characterized Foss: "He had a hero's swagger but a winning smile to go with his plain talk and movie-star looks. Joe Foss was larger than life, and his heroics in the skies over the Pacific were just the beginning of a journey that would take him to places far from that farm with no electricity and not much hope north of Sioux Falls."<ref>Brokaw 1998, p. 115.</ref>''Brave Eagle'', a 1955 postwar effort to film a story of Foss's life, starring his friend, [[John Wayne]], fell through in 1956 when Foss refused to allow the producers to add a fictitious love story.<ref name="Bauer p. 82">Bauer May 1990, p. 82.</ref> ''American Ace: The Joe Foss Story'' was an award-winning, hour-length television documentary, produced by the [[South Dakota Public Broadcasting]], first aired in fall 2006.<ref name="SDPB">[http://www.sdpb.org/JoeFoss/default.asp "American Ace: The Joe Foss Story."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928112828/http://www.sdpb.org/JoeFoss/default.asp |date=2011-09-28 }} ''South Dakota Public Broadcasting'', 2011. Retrieved: August 4, 2011.</ref>

Foss was inducted into the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] in 1984.<ref>[http://www.nationalaviation.org/enshrinees/ "Enshrinees."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312033710/http://www.nationalaviation.org/enshrinees/ |date=2011-03-12 }} ''National Aviation Hall of Fame.'' Retrieved: August 3, 2011</ref> He also was a president and board chairman of the [[Air Force Association]] and as a Director of the [[United States Air Force Academy]].<ref name="Bernstein"/> In 2000, he served as a consultant on the popular computer game ''[[Combat Flight Simulator 2]]'' by Microsoft.<ref>Seal, Jon and Michael Ahn. {{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/games/combatfs2/articles_foss.asp |title="An Interview with Joseph Jacob 'Joe' Foss." |website=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=2012-10-22 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209105228/http://www.microsoft.com/games/combatfs2/articles_foss.asp |archive-date=February 9, 2006 }} ''Microsoft Games Studios,'' March 2000. Retrieved: August 3, 2011.</ref> A complete listing of Foss's affiliations and honors is given at The Joe Foss Institute.<ref>[http://www.joefoss.com/about-us/about-joe-foss/accomplishments-and-affiliations "Accomplishments and Affiliations."] ''The Joe Foss Institute.'' Retrieved: August 4, 2011.</ref>

==Later years==
{{more citations needed|section|date=October 2016}}
On January 11, 2002, Foss, then 86, was in the news when he was detained by security at the [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]]. He was scheduled to deliver an address at the National Rifle Association and speak to a class at the [[United States Military Academy]] at West Point. A search necessitated by his pacemaker precluding a metal detector screening had led to the discovery of the star-shaped Medal of Honor, along with a clearly marked dummy-bullet keychain, a second replica bullet and a small nail file (with MOH insignia).

The incident caused a furor with both media and public support given to Foss. Newsman Jack Cafferty noted that [[airport security]] personnel demonstrated poor judgment in not recognizing the Medal of Honor and in demanding to confiscate and destroy the medal and related memorabilia. He eventually lost a souvenir replica bullet, but was able to retain his Medal of Honor and commemorative nail file, by shipping it back to himself.<ref name="Cafferty">Cafferty, Jack. [http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/02/27/war.hero.cnna "Interview with Joe Foss: Decorated WWII veteran detained, searched at airport"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821170551/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/02/27/war.hero.cnna/ |date=2006-08-21 }}, CNN.com, February 27, 2002.</ref>

<blockquote>"I wasn't upset for me ... I was upset for the Medal of Honor, that they just didn't know what it even was. It represents all of the guys who lost their lives – the guys who never came back. Everyone who put their lives on the line for their country. You're supposed to know what the Medal of Honor is", he said.<ref>Smith 2003, p. xviii.</ref> The incident led to a national debate about post 9/11 airport security practices and their ramifications on the average citizen.<ref>Alonso-Zildivar, Ricardo. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-11-mn-32223-story.html "Public Anger Simmers Over Airport Searches"], ''Los Angeles Times'', March 11, 2002.</ref></blockquote>

==Death==
Foss suffered a [[stroke]] in October 2002 when he bled from a cerebral [[aneurysm]]. He died three months later on [[New Year's Day]], 2003, never having regained consciousness, in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], where he and his wife had made their home in later years.<ref>Goldstein, Richard. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120328103437/http://www.andthereiwas.com/joefoss/ny_times_obit.html "Joe Foss, 87, Flying Ace Who Led Football League, Is Dead"]}}, ''The New York Times'', January 2003.</ref><ref>Harriman, Peter and David Kranz. "S.D. loses legend, American hero", ''Argus Leader'', January 2, 2003.</ref> Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], retired Lt. Colonel [[Oliver North]] and South Dakota native and NBC News anchor [[Tom Brokaw]] were among those who attended with North delivering the eulogy.

Actor [[Charlton Heston]] gave a brief tribute to his old friend. Foss was buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]] in Section 7A, Lot 162 on January 21, 2003.<ref>[https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/Medal-of-Honor-Recipients/World-War-II-MoH-recipients/Joseph-J-Foss Notable Graves: Medal of Honor Recipients, World War II] [[Arlington National Cemetery]] official website</ref> Family, friends, military personnel and dignitaries remembered him fondly at a service in Arlington and at an earlier "Memorial Service for an American Patriot" in the old chapel at nearby Fort Myer.

==Memorials==
A number of institutions and locations have been named in honor of Foss, including [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]] Joe Foss Field, the Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station in [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]], the Joe Foss Field at the [[Sioux Falls Regional Airport]] {{#tag:ref|A larger-than-life bronze statue of Foss is in the lobby of the Sioux Falls Regional Airport.<ref name="Scottsdale"/>|group=Note}} {{#tag:ref|Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station is located at Sioux Falls Regional Airport.<ref name="Century"/>|group=Note}}, [[Joe Foss High School (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)|Joe Foss High School]] also in Sioux Falls, and the State Building in [[Pierre, South Dakota]]. A larger-than-life bronze statue of Foss stands in the lobby of the Sioux Falls Regional Airport.<ref name="Scottsdale">[http://scottsdalerotary.org/JoeFoss.html Joe Foss profile], scottsdalerotary.org; retrieved August 4, 2011.</ref>

The [https://www.joefossshootingcomplex.com/ Joe Foss Shooting Complex] in [[Buckeye, Arizona]], is also named in his honor.<ref>[http://joefossrange.com "Outdoor Shooting Facility."] ''Joe Foss Shooting Complex''; retrieved February 22, 2016.</ref> A private road in Scottsdale, Arizona, owned by General Dynamics, was renamed "Joe Foss Way" and dedicated on May 20, 2003.<ref>Kurtinitis, Tracey. [http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/article_b394cc23-66bc-5f39-b1b2-a1fb698506e5.html "General Dynamics honors legendary Scottsdale figure"], ''East Valley Tribune'', May 21, 2003; retrieved February 22, 2016.</ref>

In 1984, Foss was inducted into the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] in Dayton, Ohio. <ref>{{cite web |title=Enshrinee Joe Foss |url=https://nationalaviation.org/enshrinee/joseph-jacob-foss/ |website=nationalaviation.org |publisher=National Aviation Hall of Fame |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref>

Foss was inducted into the [[Naval Aviation Hall of Honor]] at the [[National Naval Aviation Museum]] in [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]], [[Florida]], in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kaczor |first=Bill |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-27-mn-1868-story.html |title=Marine Aces True Hell-for-Leather Pilots |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=1994-11-27 |access-date=2017-07-11 }}</ref>

==Aerial victories==
[[File:Foss (Guadalcanal).jpg|thumb|Profile drawing of a Grumman F4F Wildcat flown by Joe Foss (Guadalcanal, {{circa|1942}})]]
The Marine Corps credits Foss with 26 air victories, and Marine ace [[Robert M. Hanson]] with 25 victories. However, the Marine Corps credits Marine ace [[Gregory Boyington|Gregory "Pappy" Boyington]] with 28 American victories. This is due to Boyington's (22 Marine victories) wartime claim of 6 victories scored while serving with the [[Flying Tigers]] ([[American Volunteer Group|American Volunteer Group-AVG]]) in [[China]] at the beginning of World War II, prior to him rejoining the Marine Corps;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Boyington_G.htm |title="Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, USMCR (Deceased)" |access-date=2006-02-17 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806113319/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Boyington_G.htm |archive-date=August 6, 2007 }} ''Who's Who in Marine Corps History''; retrieved August 3, 2011.</ref>

AVG records show that Boyington was paid for 3.5 enemy aircraft destroyed (2-air, 1.5-ground).<ref>Ford, Daniel quoting Dr. Frank Olynyk. [http://www.warbirdforum.com/vics.htm "Victory credits."] ''Stars and Bars: A Tribute to the American Fighter Ace'' via ''warbirdforum.com'', 1995. Retrieved: August 3, 2011.</ref> The American Fighter Aces Association credits Boyington with 24 victories (22 with the Marine Corps and 2 with the AVG).

{| class="wikitable"
! Date !! Total !! Aircraft Types Claimed
|-
| October 13, 1942 || 1 || A6M [[World War II Allied names for Japanese aircraft|Allied reporting name: "Zeke"]] destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| October 14, 1942 || 1 || A6M "Zeke" destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| October 18, 1942 || 3 || 2 A6M "Zekes" and 1 [[Mitsubishi G4M|G4M "Betty"]] destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| October 20, 1942 || 2 || A6M "Zekes" destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| October 23, 1942 || 4 || A6M "Zekes" destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| October 25, 1942 || 2 || A6M "Zekes" destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| October 25, 1942 || 3 || A6M "Zekes" destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| November 7, 1942 || 3 || 1 [[Nakajima A6M2-N|A6M2-N "Rufe"]] and 2 [[Mitsubishi F1M|F1M2 "Pete]]s" destroyed (Cactus), but was shot down by the rear gunner of a Pete he shot down. Postwar records show the Japanese lost only one Pete that day.<ref>Hackett, Bob, Sander Kingsepp and Allan Alsleben. [http://www.combinedfleet.com/Kamikawa%20Maru_t.htm "Tokusetsu Suijoki-Bokan: IJN Seaplane Tender Kamikawa Maru: Tabular Record of Movement."] ''Japanese Auxiliary Seaplane Tenders,'' 2006. Retrieved: July 9, 2012.</ref>
|-
| November 12, 1942 || 3 || 2 G4M "Bettys" and 1 A6M Zero destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| November 15, 1942 || 1 || [[Aichi E13A|E13A "Jake"]] destroyed (Cactus)
|-
| January 15, 1943 || 3 || A6M "Zekes" destroyed (Cactus)<ref>[http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2740/foss-joseph-jacob.php "Foss, Joseph Jacob."] ''Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'' Retrieved: January 15, 2012.</ref>
|-
| ||26 ||
|}

==Military awards==
Foss's military decorations and awards include:
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png|width=206|alt=}}
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Naval_Aviator_Badge.jpg|width=206|alt=}}
|-
|colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|other_device= |ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Combat_Action_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=AF_Presidential_Unit_Citation_Ribbon.png|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=AFRM_with_Hourglass_Device_(Silver).jpg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=USAF_Marksmanship_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan=12|[[United States Aviator Badge|United States Air Force Command Pilot Badge]]<ref>For Air National Guard service</ref>
|-
|colspan=12|[[United States Naval Aviator|Naval Aviator Badge]]
|-
|colspan=6|[[Medal of Honor]]
|colspan=8|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|-
|colspan=4|[[Air Medal]]<br>w/ two [[5/16 inch star|{{frac|5|16}}" Gold Star]]
|colspan=4|[[Combat Action Ribbon]]
|colspan=4|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Air Force Presidential Unit Citation]]<br>w/ one bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
|colspan=4|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Navy Presidential Unit Citation]]<br> w/ one [[service star|{{frac|3|16}}" Bronze Star]]
|colspan=4|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|colspan=4|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|-
|colspan=4|[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]]<br>w/ two {{frac|3|16}}" Bronze Stars
|colspan=4|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|colspan=4|[[National Defense Service Medal]]<br>w/ one {{frac|3|16}}" Bronze Star
|-
|colspan=4|[[Air Force Longevity Service Award]]<br>w/ one bronze oak leaf cluster
|colspan=4|[[Armed Forces Reserve Medal]]<br>silver [[hourglass device]]
|colspan=4|[[Marksmanship Ribbon|Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon]]
|}

===Medal of Honor citation===
{{blockquote|The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR to<br />
'''CAPTAIN JOSEPH J. FOSS'''<br />
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE<br />
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

<blockquote>
For outstanding heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of a Marine Fighting Squadron, at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. Engaging in almost daily combat with the enemy from October 9 to November 19, 1942, Captain Foss personally shot down 23 Japanese aircraft and damaged others so severely that their destruction was extremely probable. In addition, during this period, he successfully led a large number of escort missions, skillfully covering reconnaissance, bombing and photographic planes as well as surface craft. On January 15, 1943, he added three more enemy aircraft to his already brilliant successes for a record of aerial combat achievement unsurpassed in this war. Boldly searching out an approaching enemy force on January 25, Captain Foss led his eight F4F Marine planes and four Army P-38s into action and, undaunted by tremendously superior numbers, intercepted and struck with such force that four Japanese fighters were shot down and the bombers were turned back without releasing a single bomb. His remarkable flying skill, inspiring leadership and indomitable fighting spirit were distinctive factors in the defense of strategic American positions on Guadalcanal.</blockquote>

/S/ [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]}}

==See also==
* [[List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II#F|List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II]]
* [[List of American Football League players|American Football League players, coaches and contributors]]

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Bauer, Daniel. "Joe Foss: American Hero (Part One)." ''Air Classics,'' Volume 26, Number 1, January 1990.
* Bauer, Daniel. "Joe Foss: American Hero (Part Two)." ''Air Classics,'' Volume 26, Number 3, March 1990.
* Bauer, Daniel. "Joe Foss: American Hero (Part Three)." ''Air Classics,'' Volume 26, Number 5, May 1990.
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060613235801/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6 "Brigadier General Joseph Jacob Foss, ANG."]}} ''Who's Who in Marine Corps History''.
* Brokaw, Tom. ''The Greatest Generation.'' New York: Random House, 1998. {{ISBN|978-0-375-50202-6}}.
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613235801/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6 |date=June 13, 2006 |title="Capt Joseph J. Foss, Medal of Honor, 1942, VMA, Guadalcanal (Medal of Honor citation)" }} ''[[United States Marine Corps]]''
* Foss, Joe. ''A Proud American: The Autobiography of Joe Foss.'' New York: Presidio Press, 2002. {{ISBN|978-0-89141-775-0}}.
* Gurney, Gene. ''Five Down & Glory.'' New York: Ballantine Books, 1982, First edition 1965. {{ISBN|978-0-345-30799-6}}.
* Jackson, Robert. ''Fighter Aces of World War II: The True Stories of Fourteen of World War II's Fighter Pilots'': London: Corgi Books, 1978. {{ISBN|0-552-10783-2}}.
* Loomis, Robert D. ''Great American Fighter Pilots of World War II.'' New York: Random House, 1961. {{ISBN|0-394-90396-X}}.
* Miller, Thomas G. Jr. ''The Cactus Air Force.'' New York: Ballantine Books, 1969. {{ISBN|0-553-14766-8}}.
* Shores, Christopher. ''Fighter Aces''. London: Hamlyn Publishing, 1975. {{ISBN|0-600-30230-X}}.
* Sims, Edward H. ''Greatest Fighter Missions of the top Navy and Marine aces of World War II.'' New York: Ballantine Books, 1969, First edition 1962. {{ISBN|978-0-03-450163-6}}.
* Smith, Larry. ''Beyond Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words.'' New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2004, First edition 2003. {{ISBN|978-0-393-32562-1}}.
* Tillman, Barrett. ''Wildcat Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces).'' Oxford, UK: Osprey, 1995. {{ISBN|978-1-85532-486-2}}.
* Yenne, Bill. ''Aces High: The Heroic Saga of the Two Top-Scoring American Aces of World War II.'' New York: Berkley, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-101-00266-7}}.
* Zimmerman, Dwight Jon and John D. Gresham. ''Uncommon Valor: The Medal of Honor and the Six Warriors Who Earned It in Afghanistan and Iraq.'' New York: St. Martin's Press, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-312-36385-7}}.
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news |last1=McCombs |first1=Phil |title='He Flew with the Eagles': WWII Ace Joseph Foss Remembered at Arlington |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 22, 2003}}
* {{cite news |title=Foss was big influence on NBC's Brokaw |work=The Arizona Republic |date=January 4, 2003}}
* {{cite news |title=Memorial service for WWII hero Joe Foss set for Thursday |work=The Arizona Republic |date=January 3, 2003}}
* {{cite news |title=WWII ace Joe Foss dies at 87 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=January 2, 2003}}

==External links==
* [http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_foss.html Joseph Foss – C.O. VMF-121]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111223192519/http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/1997/foss_1997.asp Joseph J. Foss]}}
* [http://www.joefoss.com/about-us/about-joe-foss/joe-foss-biography Joe Foss Institute]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070711114446/http://www.sdsiou.ang.af.mil/ South Dakota Air National Guard website]}}
* [http://historicalregistry.com/?page_id=241 Joe J. Foss, Medal of Honor] – Joe Foss estate artifacts restored, preserved and displayed at Historical Registry
* {{YouTube|K7-PDbkxChI|Appearance on What's My Line quiz show}}
* [https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgRmb3NzEgFq/ Arlington National Cemetery]
* {{C-SPAN|6123}}

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