The following article on the squadron Joe Foss commanded during World War 2, the famous VMF-115, was published in WW2 Quarterly Magazine, andis used here by permission of the publisher. All photos courtesy of the National Archives unless otherwise noted.
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By Allyn Vannoy
“AS A RETURNING flight of Marine SBDs, dive bombers, were setting down on the airstrip, one of the planes lost a bomb which had failed to release during the mission. The bomb skidded down the runway and came to a stop in the middle of the field. No one knew if the bomb was armed. Everyone was ducking for cover.Where it lay it was preventing other planes from landing. So, Al Tierny, from St. Paul, Minnesota, and I volunteered to go out and get the bomb off the runway. We jumped in a small truck with a hoist and went out and hooked the bomb up, lifted it off the ground, and got it off to the end of the airstrip, permitting the waiting aircraft to land.” So reported Lance Corporal Robert Vannoy, who was not only an aircraft armorer, but also held a marksman’s badge.
With Veterans Day fast-approaching, here at the Joe Foss Institute we wanted to share some patriotic quotes. Our mission is to promote and teach Patriotism, Public Service, Integrity, and a deep appreciation for America’s Freedoms. Keeping that in mind, we hope that the following quotes will not only inspire, but can be used to help teach and interest children about our shared American values.
2008 Vice Presidential nominee and former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin’s Facebook page praised the Joe Foss Institute for their work teaching patriotism, public service, and the value of our freedoms to the next generation of children in schools.
Gov. Palin’s husband Todd attended the annual Joe Foss Pheasant Hunt in South Dakota, the proceeds from which help further the work of the Joe Foss Institute. The Hunt takes place in the same region that Joe Foss himself grew up, in rural South Dakota. It was there that Joe Foss first was exposed to the values that would encourage him to devote his later years to teaching patriotism and the importance of public service to students.
On Independence Day, take a moment to ponder the Declaration of Independence, and the courage it took for the Continental Congress to vote to adopt it. Enjoy this powerful clip from the John Adams mini-series:
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