Legislature approves working holiday honoring Joe Foss

PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota will observe April 17 as a working holiday in honor of former Gov. Joe Foss under a bill that received final legislative approval Wednesday.

The Senate voted 33-1 to pass HB1222, which was approved a couple of weeks ago by the House of Representatives. The measure will become law if signed by Gov. Mike Rounds.

The bill would designate April 17 as a holiday, but people would still work on that date.

Sen. Arne Brown, R-Brookings, said Foss should be honored as a former governor and for his many other accomplishments.

Foss grew up near Sioux Falls, shot down 26 enemy planes as a Marine pilot in World War II, helped organize the South Dakota Air National Guard, served as state lawmaker, was governor in 1955-1959, and went on to lead the American Football League and the National Rifle Association.

One of Joe's last experiences with our government was a TSA person trying to confiscate his medal on the grounds that it was a "throwing star." The government he fought for is almost no longer worth fighting for. The principles he fought for will always be worth fighting for.

(There is a nice bronze of him in the Rapid City airport concourse. Not as big as it should be.)

Medal of Honor Citation:

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. Born: 17 April 1 915, Sioux Falls, S. Dakota.

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-38s 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.

More here:
http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_foss.html

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