R.I.P. Joe Foss - Joe

R.I.P. Joe Foss - Joe Foss, former governor of South Dakota, and before that US Marine fighter pilot and, for a while, America's leading fighter ace, died today at 87.

In 1943, flying from Henderson Field, on Guadalcanal Island, Foss shot down 26 Japanese aircraft in a matter of days.

Foss "spurred an entire nation into a resolve that we would win the second World War and make the world a safer place," [Current South Dakota governor Bill] Janklow said. "All the things that he accomplished pale in comparison to the fact that back in the deep dark days of the early '40s when America needed a hero, Joe Foss was there."

He was indeed - and his accomplishments kept rolling. He went on to govern South Dakota, lead the original American Football League, and was a past president of the National Rifle Association.

The passing of the World War II generation is a national tragedy, unavoidable as it is.

(Via Rachel Lucas and her History Project)

Posted by Mitch at January 2, 2003 05:09 PM