Captain Joseph J. Foss — Medal of Honor, United States Marine Corps Reserve
Between 13 October 1942 and 15 January 1943, over a 95-day span in the early months of World War II, Captain Joseph Jacob Foss established himself as one of America’s most daring fighter pilots. Flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Foss shot down 26 enemy aircraft and became the first American ace of World War II to equal the World War I record set by Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. His leadership, tenacity, and marksmanship helped protect Marine ground forces during a campaign that proved pivotal in the Pacific.
Early life and flight training
Joseph Jacob Foss was born near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on 17 April 1915. The eldest son of a farmer, he completed high school and college locally, graduating in 1940 with a degree in business administration. While still a student he began taking flight lessons and earned a private pilot certificate through Civil Aeronautics Administration programs. Foss enlisted in the South Dakota National Guard in 1937 and entered the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in June 1940. After flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, he received his naval aviator wings on 31 March 1941 and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant.
From instructor to combat leader
Foss initially served as a flight instructor and later transitioned into photographic squadrons before pressing for fighter training. Though considered older than the typical combat rookie at 26, he adapted quickly to the F4F Wildcat. Promoted to captain on 11 August 1942, he became executive officer of Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121). The squadron deployed to the Solomon Islands aboard the escort carrier USS Copahee and launched for Henderson Field on 9 October 1942.
Guadalcanal — the 95-day run that made history
Joe Foss flew his first combat mission on 13 October 1942 and engaged Japanese formations almost daily. He demonstrated exceptional aerial gunnery and tactical sense, often shooting down multiple aircraft in a single sortie. During the 95-day period he accumulated 26 confirmed victories, including:
- 19 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters
- 1 Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe float-plane variant of the Zero
- 3 Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” medium bombers
- 2 Mitsubishi F1M2 “Pete” reconnaissance float planes
- 1 Aichi E13A “Jake” reconnaissance float plane
Admiral William F. Halsey awarded Foss the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement after a particularly intense stretch from 13 October to 30 October 1942, during which he shot down seven enemy aircraft (six fighters and one bomber). Throughout the campaign Foss survived three engine-out forced landings after his Wildcat sustained heavy battle damage, and at one point he was shot down near Malaita and rescued by local fishermen.
Illness, return, and the Medal of Honor
After months of combat on the island, Joe Foss contracted malaria and was sent to Australia for treatment. He returned to the United States in April 1943 and was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. On 18 May 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented Captain Foss with the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony recognizing his conspicuous gallantry, aggressive leadership, and extraordinary aerial victories that helped hold the skies over Guadalcanal.
“I didn’t do it alone,” Foss said later — a short, humble reminder that his achievements rested on teamwork, ground crews, and fellow pilots.
A legacy beyond combat
After the war, Joe Foss continued to serve his country and community in a variety of public roles. He remained an outspoken advocate for veterans, entered politics, and held positions in public life that built on the leadership he demonstrated in combat. He passed away in 2003 and was buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His name and example continue to be remembered by Marines, aviators, and historians as one of the defining American fighter aces of World War II.
Why Captain Foss matters today
- His Guadalcanal campaign illustrates how air power and individual initiative can change the course of a battle.
- Foss combined technical skill, courage, and leadership under sustained pressure — qualities still taught in military and civilian leadership programs.
- His humility and sense of duty serve as a reminder that battlefield success depends on teamwork and sacrifice.
Captain Joe Foss’s story endures because it blends extraordinary personal achievement with service to others. As an ace, Medal of Honor recipient, and public servant, he exemplified the resolve and responsibility that shaped the Allied victory in the Pacific.
