Royce Williams, 100, Receives Medal of Honor for Korean War Heroism

During his State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams for extraordinary valor during a secret mission in the Korean War. The 100-year-old veteran’s actions, which involved a prolonged dogfight against seven Soviet MiG fighter jets, remained classified for decades.

A Secret Mission Revealed

On November 18, 1952, then-Lt. Williams was flying an F9F-5 Panther fighter aircraft off the coast of the Korean Peninsula when he encountered seven Soviet MiG-15s. Despite being outnumbered, Williams engaged the enemy, shooting down four aircraft during a 35-minute aerial battle . This engagement is considered the longest aerial dogfight in U.S. Navy history involving a single pilot.

Decades of Secrecy

The details of Williams’s mission were kept secret for over 60 years to avoid escalating tensions with the Soviet Union and to protect the fact that the U.S. Was intercepting Soviet communications . Williams himself remained silent about the event, even with his wife, for many years.

Recognition and Honors

Williams was initially awarded a Silver Star in 1953, later upgraded to the Navy Cross in 2023 . President Trump personally called Williams three weeks prior to the State of the Union address to inform him of the Medal of Honor. During the ceremony, First Lady Melania Trump presented Williams with the medal as he received a standing ovation from Congress .

A Humble Hero

Despite the intensity of the aerial combat – his aircraft sustained 263 hits – Williams has remained humble about his actions. Jim Kendrick, CEO and president of the San Diego Air & Space Museum, described the mission as “the mission from hell” but emphasized that the recognition was “long overdue” .