Joe Foss
| Joe Foss | |
|---|---|
 
Captain Joe Foss, U.S. Marine Corps,
Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Birth name | Joseph Jacob Foss |
| Nickname(s) | "Smokey Joe", "Old Joe", "Old Foos, "Ace of Aces" |
| Born |
April 17, 1915 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | January 1, 2003 (aged 87) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |
United States Marine Corps South Dakota Air National Guard |
| Years of service | 1940–1946 (USMCR) 1946–1955 (ANG) |
| 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 |
| Spouse(s) | June Shakstad (1942-19??; divorced) Donna Wild Foss (1967-2003; his death) |
| Other work |
American Football League Commissioner National Rifle Association President Television broadcaster Author Entrepreneur Spokesperson |
| 20th Governor of South Dakota | |
|
In office January 4, 1955 – January 6, 1959 |
|
| Lieutenant | L. Roy Houck |
| Preceded by | Sigurd Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Herseth |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | University of South Dakota |
| Occupation | businessman |
Joseph Jacob "Joe" Foss (April 17, 1915 – January 1, 2003) was a United States Marine Corps major and the leading Marine fighter ace in World War II, and a Medal of Honor recipient, recognizing his role in the air combat during the Guadalcanal Campaign.
In postwar years, he was an Air National Guard brigadier general, the 20th governor of South Dakota, president of the National Rifle Association, the first commissioner of the American Football League, and a television broadcaster.
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. At age 12, he visited an airfield in 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, Clyde Ice.
In March 1933, while coming back from the fields during a storm, his father died when he drove over a downed electrical cable and was electrocuted as he stepped out of his automobile. Young Foss, not yet 18 years old, pitched in with his mother and brother Cliff to continue running the family farm. Farming was made difficult by dust storms, which over the next two years took its toll on crops and livestock.
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Wikipedia