Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KFGO) – During the State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Trump honored several U.S. service members and one Olympic athlete with awards that included the Purple Heart, the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Legion of Merit and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, age 100, was in attendance to receive the Medal of Honor— the U.S. military’s highest honor for valor in combat — for his heroics during an aerial confrontation that remained secret for about a half-century.
Williams, who grew up in Wilmot, South Dakota, shot down four Soviet MiG-15 jets during a 35-minute dogfight with seven Soviet jets while flying off the coast of the Korean Peninsula during the Korean War in 1952.
It’s considered one of the longest aerial engagements in U.S. Navy history.
“Tonight, at 100 years old, this brave Navy captain is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He was a legend long before this evening,” Trump said.
Williams received a several-minute standing ovation while first lady Melania Trump presented Williams with the award.
Williams was recently a guest on News & Views with Joel Heitkamp. You can listen to the podcast below.
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