FOSS, JOSEPH JACOB - Medal of Honor Recipient
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. Birth: 17 April 1 915, Sioux Falls, S. Dak. 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.
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