Sadly, General Joe Foss died in January, 2003. At one time he was America's leading air Ace in the pacific : 26 confirmed kills and in a F4F Wildcat that was hopelessly inferior to the Zero. He also served as Governor of one of the western states. Perhaps his membership on the board of governors of the NRA recognized him as a terrorist threat, particularly as he was carrying that "throwing star", er Congressional Medal of Honor.