WASHINGTON – Retired Navy Captain Royce Williams, 100, received the Medal of Honor on February 24th for extraordinary valor during a Korean War dogfight in 1952, becoming the oldest living recipient of the nation’s highest military honor. The award, presented by President Donald Trump during the State of the Union address, recognizes Williams’s actions on November 18, 1952, when he single-handedly engaged seven Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets, downing four of them.
Williams, a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, flew over 220 combat missions during his naval career. The 1952 encounter, however, remained largely unknown for over half a century due to a direct order of secrecy issued to Williams after his return to the USS Oriskany. President Trump revealed during the ceremony that Williams had not even disclosed the details of the battle to his wife.
According to accounts that emerged in 2017, first reported by American Legion Magazine, Williams and three other Navy pilots encountered the Soviet aircraft. Facing overwhelming odds, Williams took on the majority of the enemy fighters, sustaining over 260 hits to his F9F-5 Panther jet during the 35-minute engagement. The damage was so extensive that the aircraft was subsequently pushed overboard from the carrier.
The long delay in recognizing Williams’s heroism stemmed from the classified nature of the encounter and the subsequent restrictions on discussing it. Russia declassified relevant information approximately a decade ago, opening the door for a formal review of Williams’s actions. Despite the passage of time, advocates, including members of American Legion Post 416 in Encinitas, California, spearheaded a campaign to secure the Medal of Honor.
Efforts to award Williams the medal were formalized through the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included provisions to remove time limitations that had previously hindered the process. Steve Lewandowski, a member of Post 416, described the award as a long-overdue recognition, stating, “Today is Royce’s day… It’s a day that likewise represents the impact of The American Legion and the dedicated team that worked to make this happen.”
During a phone call from President Trump informing him of the honor, Williams expressed his gratitude, noting, “As you know I am more than 100 years old, all 100-plus is excited. The event that is being celebrated is long ago. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The Medal of Honor was also presented to Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover, a helicopter pilot involved in a recent operation in Venezuela. The dual presentation underscored the administration’s focus on recognizing both historical and contemporary acts of valor.
