I Wanna Be Like Joe Foss!

  If you look up the word 'remarkable' in the dictionary, you just might see a picture of Joe Foss.  You name it, he could do it.    In the Second World War, he was the leading ace in the Marine Corps, winning the Congressional Medal of Honor.  He shot down 26 Japanese planes during the war.  During peacetime, he turned down an offer of one million dollars for John Wayne to portray him on the screen as the script had a fictitious love story.

After the war, Foss served two terms in South Dakota's legislature then was elected the state's governor.  He shocked people by having bi-partisan cabinets.  One of his backers let him know he didn't care for it, pointing out he'd contributed five hundred dollars to Foss' campaign, a good amount of money in 1955.  Foss reimbursed the man out of his own pocket, and when the man continued to complain, physically threw him out.

Staying in the National Guard, he attained the rank of Brigadier General in the Air Force.  (When he went to the Air National Guard, it was said the Marines lost their best.)

In 1959, Foss became the commissioner of the American Football League.  He battled some of the owners, and gamblers.  When he 'suggested' to a player he retire, as Foss had learned the man was betting on games, the man did.  Several days later, gamblers associated with the man let it be known they didn't appreciate Foss' actions, and could hurt him.  The commissioner challenged them then and there.  The gamblers left and never bothered Foss again.

In addition to hosting The American Sportsman and The Outdoorsman: Joe Foss, Foss was President of the NRA from 1988 to 1990.  He and his wife founded the Joe Foss Institute, which instills patriotism and integrity in youth.

The only trouble Foss ever caused this country was after September 11, 2001 going through an airport.  In going through security, he had an object with some extremely sharp points, and it raised the concerns of those in security.  It was his Medal of Honor pin.

Yet if you ever would ask Joe Foss what his greatest accomplishment was, he was he would always answer, "The day I asked Jesus Christ to be my personal Lord and Savior."

Wow.

Now you look at Joe Foss' life, and you see an man on the go.  He was a man of accomplishments.  He did things that most of us couldn't - or for that matter - wouldn't - try.  Yet, with all his fame - all his glory - he considered his finest feat something that a child can do.  Something you or I can do.

That is why Joe Foss was a great man.

I wanna be like Joe Foss.

http://www.joefoss.com/