It was 17 years ago today that American hero Joe Foss passed away. Joe Foss lived one of the fullest lives of almost anyone I can think of. He was a military hero - he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was a politician - he served as Governor of South Dakota. He was a businessman - he served as the first commissioner of the American Football League (stepping aside just 2 months before the merger with the NFL). He was an activist - serving as President of the National Rifle Association. He was also quite literally The American Sportsman.
Joe Foss was also the leading American fighter ace in World War II shooting down 26 enemy aircraft in total.
Its a shame to me that a man like Joe Foss could accomplish so much but be known and remembered by so few.
EDIT: It was correctly pointed out that Medal of Honor winner Richard Bong with 40 confirmed kills was the leading American Ace of WWII. Joe Foss was the leading surviving Ace. As in most wars the true heroes were the ones who did not come back. Mea Culpa.
