🇺🇸 Medal of Honor for Retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams
Retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams, age 100 and originally from Wilmot, South Dakota, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump during the 2026 State of the Union address on Feb. 24, 2026.
Williams’ award recognizes extraordinary heroism during the Korean War in 1952. He engaged in a prolonged aerial battle over the sea off Korea against seven Soviet MiG-15 jets, shot down four of them, and saved U.S. naval forces by shielding them with his actions — all while his own aircraft took heavy damage. For decades the combat encounter was classified and not publicly recognized.
The Medal of Honor ceremony made Williams the oldest living recipient to receive the nation’s highest military award.
