Joe Foss - American Hero

Hi everyone,

I know that this is primarily a WW1 aviation site, but I feel the need to say a few things about a great American hero, Brig. General Joe Foss, who died on January 1st of this year. Foss became the first American pilot to reach Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker's score of 26 victories. This is amazing as all of these were scored while flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat with VFM-121, a plane often referred to as being inferior to the Japanese Zero.

His courage at Gaudalcanal was legendary, earning him a Medal of Honor which was awarded in May of 1943. He went on to become the Governor of his home state of South Dakota, Commisioner of the American Football League, and President of the National Rifle Association.

I for one mourn the loss of this soldier/statesman, and because of the freedoms we Americans now enjoy, feel indebted to him. All of us can draw inspiration from his courage and patriotism during this most trying time. His sacrifices will not be in vain, as I feel this country will overcome our enemies, and ensure the liberty and peace that Joe Foss fought so hard to secure 60 years ago.

[Barrett]

I have just today received a letter from the USMC History & Museums Division in response to my query to the assistant commandant, Gen. Nyland, as to why the corps insists on denying Joe his rightful status as the service's top fighter ace. I'll post the letter shortly, but suffice to say that Uncle Sam's Misguided Children are institutionally unable to admit an egregious error of 60 years standing.
I admit to being disappointed in Gen. Nyland, a RIO, who spoke so eloquently at Joe's memorial service. When it came down to it, Nyland punted.

[Barrett]

Here's the main text of the letter from USMC History & Museums division. IMO the internal contradictions are obvious. I'm including the full address for anybody who may wish to add his sentiment to the growing list. Bottom line: Boyington was credited with 22 victories in USMC service; 2 of his claimed 6 in China were confirmed. In either case, the way I was educated, 22 and 24 both are less than 26.


Main text of the letter, 24 Feb:

"The Marine Corps does not believe it would be prudent to challenge the record of the heroic fighter aces of WW II. The late Robert Sherrod, the noted historian and foremost authority on the subject of Marine Corps aviation in WW II, once noted that one of the major problems with compiling authoritative lists of scores by Marine Corps aces during the conflict, was that available "records are most uncertain during the period when pilots were busiest fighting the enemy."

Moreover, the scores of the Marine aces were based at the time on available records, along with the testimony of the pilots themselves. To challenge retroactively the decisions of the Marine Corps leadership of that period concerning the validity of these scores could serve to inflict unnecessary emotion distress on the families of those heroes who sacrificed so much for their Corps and Country.

Certainly, the remarkable record of Joe Foss stands alone on its own merit, and Marine Corps historians do indeed recognize him as the Corps' leading ace during Marine operations in the Pacific during WW II.

Charles D. Melson
Chief Historian
History & Museums Division
1254 Charles Morris Street, SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5040