Another MoH announced
Capt Royce Williams
It’s been three years since I wrote up the heroics of naval aviator Captain Royce Williams. You’ll remember he was flying a straight wing F9F Panther off the coast of Korea during the Korean War. He was scrambled with another aircraft to intercept several Soviet MiG-15s headed towards their carrier group. The MiG-15 was the preeminent fighter at the time, and superior in virtually every metric to the F9F.
Losing his wingman to jammed guns, Williams proved the adage that it’s the pilot more than the plane that makes the better dog fighter. He took on several MiGs, and shot down four of them. He nearly became an ace in a day, all alone, and in a single engagement.
Williams’ mission, a direct action against the Soviet Union, was classified at the highest level. He was sworn to secrecy and never talked about it, even with his wife or his brother (a Marine aviator). He received a quiet Silver Star to remember the event, and then compartmentalized it while he went on to continue a long naval career.
Once word of his actions became better known, it was suggested that he should receive an upgrade to the Medal of Honor. That process is complicated and convoluted, requiring congressional movement. While that was being worked on, Williams’ Silver Star was upgraded to a Navy Cross in 2023 as he closed in on 100 years old. The clock is ticking.
Some good news then, that Williams’ decoration is again being upgraded, now to the highest honor our nation bestows. Congressman Darrell Issa (D-CA) has announced that Williams will be receiving the Medal of Honor. President Trump called Williams on Wednesday to give him the good news.
Williams is now the only living Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War. Army Colonel Ralph Puckett had previously been the last living recipient when he passed in 2023 (having only been given the honor in 2021) at the age of 97.
Category: Breaking News, Medal of Honor, Navy, Valor
Over due by a long stretch but at least he is here to see and receive it.
And it’s being presented to him by PDJT47, instead of a DIldoCrat communist and/or place-holder.
BZ. About time.
Mason:
Thank You again for sharing this story of another Unsung Hero.
As CDR D stated, it is indeed about time.
For CDR D:
A salute to your Dad, CPT Reginald Desiderio, US Army:
“Desiderio was one of five men to receive the MoH in the 27th Infantry during the Korean War.”
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=135162
Rest In Peace, Sir. Never Forget.
Like they say, it ain’t the size of the boy in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the boy. Four MiGs in one go? As always, we shouldn’t have worried about “offending” the Russians, we should have been trumpeting this from the rooftops.Heck, the Russians already knew a US badass had come to town.
By normal rules of aerial combat he should have been an Ace+1
Crashing on the return home is normally considered a shoot down.
Perhaps he scared the Jesus into the last pilot so badly he defected?
Imagine being a naval aviator with this exploit to your credit and not talking smack to your marine aviator brother. That had to be harder than the original accomplishment.