Sixty Years Ago ...
Semper Fi - Joe Foss
Marine
Ace
Medal
of Honor Recipient
by
Jennifer King and Timothy Rollins
January 9, 2003
Second of Two Parts
Reflections on World War II
A
Special Note to Our Readers: As
more and more of our heroes from World War II are dying - at the rate of more
than 1,000 per day, we have the special opportunity to pay tribute to one who
stood head and shoulders above his peers. Marine Ace (then-Captain) Joe Foss
died January 1, 2003 - New Year's Day at age 87. We take this opportunity to
pay tribute to this and all other American heroes who gave so selflessly of
themselves in America's darkest hour. - Jennifer
and Tim
During the Battle of Cape Esperance, the American Navy was able to score the same type of victory that the Japanese had at the earlier Battle of Savo Island - largely for the same reasons; poor air reconnaissance, flawed communications and a lack of readiness aboard Japanese vessels. Despite the loss, the Japanese were still able to unload reinforcements of men and material. Meanwhile, on 13 October 1942, Admiral Turner was able to replenish the beleaguered Marines with 210 men of the First Marine Air Wing, eighty-five Marine replacements and 2,850 men of the 164th Infantry Regiment.
During this reinforcement, twenty-seven “Bettys” and eighteen Zeros suddenly appeared on radar. Fifty-five American fighters were scrambled, but only two Japanese planes were downed. The first hint that something different was up came when the Betty’s fire was concentrated - not on the transports - but on the runway and the avgas supplies. Captain Joe Foss led a dozen VMF-121 Wildcats on the response to the second raid, where he downed a Zero but had to dodge others on his tail. A round in his oil pump forced him to make a high speed landing on Henderson Field.
Later that same evening a new character appeared on the scene. He was “Pistol Pete”, a heavy field artillery piece unloaded on the 11th, and aimed squarely at the airfield. Pete’s depredations were soon enhanced as a large Japanese convoy swung into position. At 0100 on 14 October, sixteen 14-inch guns were brought to bear on Henderson Field, and over 750 shells were expended. Men who survived this night qualified it years afterward as “the bombardment” and Joe Foss later admitted that he had been “shaking uncontrollably” the entire time.
The morning of 15 October brought a grim reality to the American forces. The huge bombardment had virtually destroyed Henderson Field, almost all the avgas and had left only seven of thirty-nine SBDs and none of the TBFs able to fly. Admiral Yamamoto, upon being appraised of the victory, decided that the Japanese invasion would proceed apace. The Marines were further humiliated by the sight of Japanese transports, anchored off Tassafaronga, “unloading troops and supplies with as much ease as if they had been in Tokyo Bay”. General Geiger, the Marine air commander, upon being told that there was no avgas left at Henderson Field, ordered, “Then, by God, find some”. Enough gas was gathered up from cached supplies to allow the Wildcats to strafe the transports. Joe Foss got his second victory in two days when he shot the wing off of a Zero.
Morning sorties also revealed a sobering sight - six transports and eight destroyers of the Imperial Navy - only 140 miles away. One of Geiger’s staff officers (Lt. Col. J.C. “Toby” Munn) assembled the pilots of the 67th Fighter Squadron and told them, “I want you to pass the word along that the situation is desperate. We don’t know whether we’ll be able to hold the field or not. There’s a Japanese task force of destroyers, cruisers and troop transports headed our way. We have enough gasoline left for one mission against them. Load your planes with bombs and go out with the dive bombers and hit them. After the gas is gone we’ll have to let the ground troops take over. Then your officers and men will attach themselves to some infantry outfit. Good luck and goodbye.” Twice during the little speech, the assemblage had to duck for cover from Japanese shells.
During the next few days, the Japanese would land further reinforcements, and sink the destroyer Meredith. The surviving crews of Meredith and another destroyer, Vireo, would endure terrible hardship as they drifted on rafts, prey to vicious sharks and the hot tropical sun. A total of 236 men lost their lives from these two ships. Japanese shelling of the island continued apace, with heavy cruisers and destroyers lobbing 926 8-inch and 253 5-inch projectiles over the next two nights.
Captain Foss would add to his victories on 18 October, when he scored four more Zeros, making him an ace after only nine days on the ’Canal. Two days later, on a reconnaissance mission with Lt. Col. Harold F. Bauer, Foss shot down two more. On 23 October, while the desperate struggle raged underneath them, VMF-121 again took to the air and Foss flamed three more Zeros. He had destroyed eleven enemy planes, but had nursed back four Wildcats that would never fly again.
25 October was the scheduled date for the Japanese invasion, and during the furious battle for air and sea supremacy Joe Foss downed two more Zeros. In an afternoon mission, he downed three more, making him the Marine Corps first “ace in a day”. Meanwhile, the Americans were doggedly hanging onto Guadalcanal. Despite a lack of troops and material, Admiral Nimitz was determined to prevail. On 15 October, he had replaced Admiral Ghormley with Vice-Admiral William F. Halsey, a bulldog of a man with a reputation as a fighter. Nimitz also ordered reinforcements to the battered island.
On 7 November, Foss and seven other F4Fs went up the Slot to attack some destroyers and a cruiser. Foss added three float planes to his score before he was shot down by a “Pete”. Foss, who couldn’t swim, struggled as his plane sunk under him. He later credited the buoyant silk of his parachute with keeping him afloat. Fortunately a native of close-by Malaita Island spotted the aviator and rescued him in an outrigger canoe. He was taken to a Catholic mission, where he was fed steak and eggs by two nuns who later made his parachute into vestments for the church. Foss was rescued the next day by Maj. Jack Cram. His total of Japanese planes downed now stood at 19, and on 9 November Admiral Halsey pinned the Distinguished Flying Cross on him and two other ace pilots.
The Americans were bringing in four transports of infantry soldiers on 12 November, and VMF-121 was again in the thick of battle. Col. Bauer was lost during this battle, and Joe Foss was diagnosed with malaria shortly thereafter and sent to New Caledonia and Australia to recuperate. Foss would return to Guadalcanal on New Year’s Day (1943) and would return to combat flying on the 15th, when he downed three more planes, bringing his total to 26. He flew his last mission ten days later, and landed without firing a shot.
Joe
Foss (right - in 1988) was sent home to a grateful nation, with 26 aerial victories
which equaled Eddie Rickenbacker’s record in World War I. He gave inspiration
talks, toured wartime factories and ended up on the inevitable War Bond Tour.
In May, 1943, President Roosevelt presented Joe with the Medal of Honor. Foss
would go on to lead a long, fruitful and productive life, serving his country
with distinction in many different roles. He was a courageous and principled
man, sincere, devout and patriotic. Joe Foss exemplified and embodied the American
spirit. To him we offer a heartfelt “Semper Fi“.
“If the Army and the Navy ever look on heaven’s scenes
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.”
-- USMC Hymn ***
General Joe Foss will be memorialized on Thursday, January 9th, 2003 at 2:00 pm at the Scottsdale Bible Church in Scottsdale, AZ. The family has requested no flowers but memorial contributions may be made to:
The NRA Foundation for the Joe and Donna Foss Endowment
111250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
Or:
The Joe Foss Institute
7745 East Redfield Rd. Suite 400
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Cards and letters may be sent to Didi Foss at P.O. Box 5051, Scottsdale, AZ 85261
© 2003 Jennifer King and Timothy Rollins
EDITOR'S NOTE: After World War II, Joe returned to active dutry for the Korean War at the rank of Colonel, following whcih he became Chief of Staff for the South Dakota Air National Guard, retiring at the rank of Brigadier General. After serving two terms as the Republican Governor of his native South Dakota, he went on to accomplish much in private life. He was the first commissioner of the American Football League until 1966, the host of not one, but TWO National television shows and President of the National Rifle Association from 1988 until 1990. Foss was featured in Tom Brokaw's best-seller The Greatest Generation, and like Foss, NBC's Tom Brokaw was also a fellow South Dakotan.
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© 2003 BY THE AMERICAN PARTISAN.
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