Today, I salute 100-year-old Navy Veteran Royce Williams. A Korean War fighter pilot, Williams survived insurmountable odds, fending off seven Soviet MiG jets in November 1952. Williams bravely shot down four of the fighters while his aircraft sustained heavy damage from gunfire. His Panther jet was pocked with 263 bullet holes. He said it was the longest 35 minutes of his life. Such heroics are typically celebrated and publicized, but with Cold War tensions high in the early 1950s, Williams vowed to keep his clash with the Russians quiet. The Soviet Union was not “officially” involved in the Korean War. When his story was revealed, however, other veterans and political leaders began campaigning to ensure Williams was properly honored for his heroics. In 2023, the retired Navy captain received the Navy Cross, and this year, he will be awarded the military’s highest achievement for valor – the Medal of Honor. Congratulations, Royce, and THANK YOU for your service.
