To all who read this, I suggest we take a moment to pause and morn the passing of one of our nations hero’s, Joe Foss. Mr. Foss was a WWII Marine Aviator, while the XO of VMF-121 he shot down a total of 26 enemy aircraft, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. After being awarded the CMH he completed a VIP tour for the US Armed Forces and returned to the South Pacific serving as the commanding officer for VMF-115.
After the war, Mr. Foss was commissioned in the South Dakota Air National Guard, which he helped organize. Mr. Foss then turned to politics and was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. In the Korean War, he returned to active duty as an Air Force Colonel. Then he became chief of staff of the South Dakota Air National Guard with the rank of Brigadier General. In 1954, Mr. Foss was overwhelmingly elected Governor of South Dakota and two years later was elected to a second term. After that, he was elected the first commissioner of the American Football League and served until 1966. He was president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) from 1988 - 1990.
Mr. Foss passed away in Arizona at the age of 87, after suffering an apparent aneurysm in October of 2002, from which he never regained consciousness.
He was a National Hero and surely will be missed.
After the war, Mr. Foss was commissioned in the South Dakota Air National Guard, which he helped organize. Mr. Foss then turned to politics and was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. In the Korean War, he returned to active duty as an Air Force Colonel. Then he became chief of staff of the South Dakota Air National Guard with the rank of Brigadier General. In 1954, Mr. Foss was overwhelmingly elected Governor of South Dakota and two years later was elected to a second term. After that, he was elected the first commissioner of the American Football League and served until 1966. He was president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) from 1988 - 1990.
Mr. Foss passed away in Arizona at the age of 87, after suffering an apparent aneurysm in October of 2002, from which he never regained consciousness.
He was a National Hero and surely will be missed.