Joe Foss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Foss
Captain Joe Foss, U.S. Marine Corps
President of the National Rifle Association
In office 1988–1990
Preceded by	James E. Reinke
Succeeded by	Richard D. Riley
20th Governor of South Dakota
In office January 6, 1955 – January 6, 1959
Lieutenant	L. Roy Houck
Preceded by	Sigurd Anderson
Succeeded by	Ralph Herseth
Personal details
Born	Joseph Jacob Foss (1915-04-17)April 17, 1915 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.
Died	January 1, 2003(2003-01-01) (aged 87) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Spouses	June Shakstad ​ ​ (m. 1942; div. 1967)​ Donna Wild Hall ​ (m. 1967)​
Occupation	American Football League Commissioner NRA President Television broadcaster Author Entrepreneur Spokesperson
Nicknames	"Smokey Joe", "Old Joe", "Old Foos", "Ace of Aces"
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	South Dakota National Guard (1939–1940) United States Marine Corps (1940–1946) South Dakota Air National Guard (1946–1955)
Years of service	1939–1955
Rank	Major (USMC) Brigadier General (ANG)
Unit	VMF-121 VMF-115
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Guadalcanal
Awards	Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (3)

Joseph Jacob Foss (April 17, 1915 – January 1, 2003) was a brave United States Marine Corps major and a top fighter pilot during World War II. He earned the Medal of Honor, which is America's highest military award, for his amazing air combat skills during the Guadalcanal Campaign. After the war, he became a brigadier general in the Air National Guard. He also served as the 20th Governor of South Dakota from 1955 to 1959. Later, he was president of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and the first commissioner of the American Football League. Joe Foss was also a well-known television host.

Early Life and Dreams

Joe Foss was born on April 17, 1915, in a farmhouse near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His family farm did not have electricity. When he was 12, he saw the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh and his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. This sparked his dream of flying. Four years later, he took his first plane ride in a Ford Trimotor with a local pilot named Clyde Ice.

In 1933, a sad event changed his life. His father died after stepping on a downed electrical cable during a storm. Joe, not yet 18, helped his mother and brother run the family farm. Farming was tough due to dust storms.

Joe was determined to become a Marine pilot. He worked at a gas station to pay for college and flying lessons. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1939 with a business degree. While in college, he helped start a flying course and earned 100 flight hours. He also played sports like boxing and football. In 1940, he joined the Marine Corps Reserves to become a pilot.

Military Career

Joe Foss during World War II

Becoming a Fighter Pilot

The Marine Corps accepted Joe Foss for flight school. He became a second lieutenant and a Naval Aviator. At first, he was considered too old to be a fighter pilot at 27. He was sent to photography school instead. But Joe really wanted to fly fighters. He kept asking for a transfer and practiced flying Grumman F4F Wildcat planes. Finally, he joined Marine Fighting Squadron 121 (VMF-121). In 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, June Shakstad.

Watercolor of U.S. Marine Captain Joe Foss shooting down a Zero over Guadalcanal in October 1942

Hero of Guadalcanal

In October 1942, Joe Foss and his squadron went to Guadalcanal as part of Operation Watchtower. They were there to help the Cactus Air Force fight for control of the sky. Their base was Henderson Field. Joe quickly became known for his aggressive flying and amazing shooting skills.

On October 13, he shot down a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero on his first mission. His own plane was hit, but he managed to land safely. On November 7, his plane was hit again, and he had to land in the sea. He survived!

Foss stands with Cactus Air Force commander MajGen Roy Geiger.

Joe led a group of eight Wildcats, which became known as "Foss's Flying Circus." In December 1942, he got sick with malaria. He went to Australia to recover. He returned to Guadalcanal on January 1, 1943. By February 1943, his "Flying Circus" had shot down 72 Japanese planes. Joe Foss himself was credited with 26 enemy planes. This matched the record of America's top World War I ace, Eddie Rickenbacker. Joe Foss became America's first "ace-of-aces" in World War II. One of the Japanese pilots he shot down, Kaname Harada, later became a peace activist and met Joe many years later.

Joe Foss returned to the United States in March 1943. On May 18, 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave him the Medal of Honor. Joe Foss appeared on the cover of Life magazine. He then went on a tour to help sell war bonds.

Back in Action

In February 1944, Joe Foss went back to the Pacific. He led VMF-115, flying the Vought F4U Corsair. During this time, he became friends with another Marine fighter ace, Marion Carl. He also met and flew with his childhood hero, Charles Lindbergh. After eight months, Joe Foss finished his combat service as one of America's top pilots.

He got malaria again and was sent home. In February 1945, he became an operations and training officer at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California.

Life After the War

Air National Guard

In August 1945, Joe Foss left active duty. He started "Joe Foss Flying Service," a company that offered charter flights and flying lessons. It grew to have 35 aircraft.

In 1946, Joe Foss helped create the South Dakota Air National Guard. He became the commanding officer of the Guard's 175th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He was very involved in flying with the squadron. During the Korean War, he was called to active duty with the United States Air Force. He eventually became a brigadier general.

Political Career

Foss as Governor, 1955

Joe Foss campaigned for office by flying his small plane. He served two terms as a Republican in the South Dakota State Legislature. In 1955, at age 39, he became the youngest governor of the state.

As governor, he appeared on TV shows like Two for the Money and What's My Line. In 1958, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, but he lost to another wartime pilot, George McGovern.

Later Careers

American Football League Commissioner

After being governor, Joe Foss became the first Commissioner of the new American Football League (AFL) in 1959. He helped the league grow into a major professional football organization. During his seven years, he expanded the league and made important television deals. These deals helped make professional football very popular. He stepped down in 1966, just before the AFL merged with the NFL to create the Super Bowl.

Television Host

Joe Foss loved hunting and the outdoors. From 1964 to 1967, he hosted ABC television's The American Sportsman. This show took him around the world for hunting and fishing trips. Then, from 1967 to 1974, he hosted and produced his own outdoors TV series, The Outdoorsman: Joe Foss.

National Rifle Association President

In 1988, Joe Foss was elected president of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) for two terms. He was known for speaking out about gun owners' rights. He appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in 1990, wearing his famous Stetson hat and holding a revolver.

Helping Others

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.

Joe Foss had a daughter with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement. He became president of the National Society of Crippled Children and Adults, an organization that helps people with disabilities. He also supported other charities like the Easter Seals campaign and programs for young people.

The Joe Foss Institute

In 2001, Joe Foss and his second wife, "Didi," started the Joe Foss Institute. This organization works with veterans and teachers across the United States. Their goal is to teach young people about history and civics. They want to inspire kids to become informed and active citizens. The institute offers programs like "Veterans Inspiring Patriotism" and scholarship contests. Joe Foss himself visited many schools, talking to children about service, responsibility, and patriotism.

Other Honors

Joe Foss wrote or was the subject of several books, including Joe Foss: Flying Marine. He was also featured in Tom Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation, which told stories of World War II heroes. Brokaw described him as having "a hero's swagger but a winning smile."

In 1984, Joe Foss was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. He also served as president of the Air Force Association. In 2000, he was a consultant for the computer game Combat Flight Simulator 2.

Later Years and Legacy

On January 11, 2002, Joe Foss, then 86, was stopped by security at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. They found his Medal of Honor and a small souvenir bullet keychain. The incident caused a lot of discussion about airport security rules. Joe Foss said he was not upset for himself, but for the Medal of Honor. He felt people should know what it represents: "It represents all of the guys who lost their lives – the guys who never came back."

Joe Foss passed away on January 1, 2003, in Scottsdale, Arizona. He had suffered a stroke a few months earlier. Many important people attended his memorial service, including Vice President Dick Cheney and news anchor Tom Brokaw. Actor Charlton Heston also gave a tribute. Joe Foss was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Many places and institutions are named in his honor. These include Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Joe Foss Field, the Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Joe Foss High School. A bronze statue of him stands at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport. The Joe Foss Shooting Complex in Buckeye, Arizona, is also named after him.

Aerial Victories

The Marine Corps officially credits Joe Foss with 26 air victories. This means he shot down 26 enemy aircraft.

Military Awards

Joe Foss received many military awards and decorations, showing his bravery and service.

Images for kids

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  An alternate logo for Marine Fighting Squadron 115, drawn by Disney Studios. The cigar pays tribute to Major Joe Foss's ever-present cigar.

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  Profile drawing of a Grumman F4F Wildcat flown by Joe Foss around 1942.

See Also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
• American Football League players, coaches and contributors