Mesa in Maricopa County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
BGen. Joseph J. Foss
Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 5, 2017
1. BGen. Joseph J. Foss Marker
Inscription.
BGen. Joseph J. Foss. .
Commemorative Air Force Arizona Military Aviation Walk of Honor Proudly Recognizes BGen. Joseph J. Foss 1915 , 2003 Medal of Honor. Brigadier General Joseph J. Foss was awarded the Medal of Honor while flying with Marine Fighting Squadron 121 at Guadalcanal in 1942-43. With 26 confirmed victories he was America’s leading ace until 1944, and remains the leading Marine ace. Leaving the Corps as a major, Foss founded the South Dakota Air National Guard and led it as a brigadier general while serving as governor for four years. His post-war career included Commissioner of the American Football League and President of the NRA. A longtime Scottsdale resident, he died on January 1, 2003. February 2012
Commemorative Air Force
Arizona Military Aviation
Walk of Honor
Proudly Recognizes
BGen. Joseph J. Foss
1915 — 2003
Medal of Honor
Brigadier General Joseph J. Foss was awarded the Medal of Honor while flying with Marine Fighting Squadron 121 at Guadalcanal in 1942-43. With 26 confirmed victories he was America’s leading ace until 1944, and remains the leading Marine ace. Leaving the Corps as a major, Foss founded the South Dakota Air National Guard and led it as a brigadier general while serving as governor for four years. His post-war career included Commissioner of the American Football League and President of the NRA. A longtime Scottsdale resident, he died on January 1, 2003. February 2012
Location. 33° 27.152′ N, 111° 44.128′ W. Marker is in Mesa, Arizona, in Maricopa County. Memorial is at the intersection of N. Greenfield Road and E. McKellips Road, on the right when traveling north on N. Greenfield Road. Located at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field Airport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2017 N Greenfield Road, Mesa AZ 85215, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . 1. Commemorative Air Force Museum. (Submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.) 2. Joe Foss on Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 5, 2017
2. BGen. Joseph J. Foss Marker
Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 5, 2017
3. Markers at the Commemorative Air Force Museum
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 1, 2012
4. BGen. Joseph J. Foss Grave Marker
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 7A, grave 162. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: FOSS, JOSEPH JACOB
• Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Fighting Squadron 121, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
• Place and date: Over Guadalcanal, 9 October to 19 November 1942, 15 and 23 January 1943
• Entered service at: South Dakota
Citation: For outstanding heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as executive officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 121, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, at Guadalcanal. Engaging in almost daily combat with the enemy from 9 October to 19 November 1942, Capt. Foss personally shot down 23 Japanese planes and damaged others so severely that their destruction was extremely probable. In addition, during this period, he successfully led a large number of escort missions, skillfully covering reconnaissance, bombing, and photographic planes as well as surface craft. On 15 January 1943, he added 3 more enemy planes to his already brilliant successes for a record of aerial combat achievement unsurpassed in this war. Boldly searching out an approaching enemy force on 25 January, Capt. Foss led his 8 F-4F Marine planes and 4 Army P-38's into action and, undaunted by tremendously superior numbers, intercepted and struck with such force that 4 Japanese fighters were shot down and the bombers were turned back without releasing a single bomb. His remarkable flying skill, inspiring leadership, and indomitable fighting spirit were distinctive factors in the defense of strategic American positions on Guadalcanal.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 265 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 4. submitted on April 19, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland.