Major Joseph Jacob Foss - MCRD - San Diego, CA - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

County of painting: San Diego County
Location of memorial: Hochmuth Ave, James L. Day Hall Museum, MCRD
MCRD: Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Artist: Alvin B. Grant

Plaque Text:
Major Joseph Jacob Foss
  World War II Ace. In 1942 as a Marine Captain, Joe Foss was assigned to Camp Kearney in the San Diego area before being sent to Guadalcanal. From October 9 to November 19, 1942, Capt. Foss personally shot down 23 planes, and damaged others so severely that his loss was almost guaranteed. He was credited with 26 kills and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the war. In 1955, Joe Foss was elected Governor of the state os South Dakota and served two terms.

His MOH Citation:
For outstanding heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of a Marine Fighting Squadron, at Guadacanal, Solomon Islands. Engaging in almost daily combat with the enemy from October 9 to November 19, 1942, Captain Foss personally shot down twenty-three 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 excort missions, skillfully covering reconnaissance, bombing and photographic planes as well as surface craft. On January 15, 1943, he added three 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 January 25, Captain Foss led his eight F4F Marine Planes and four Army P-38s into action and, undaunted by tremendously superior numbers, intercepted and struck with such force that four 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.