Wilmot Native Royce Williams to Receive Medal of Honor for Heroic 1952 Dogfight

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - President Donald Trump will award the Medal of Honor to retired U.S. Navy Captain E. Royce Williams, a Wilmot, South Dakota native, for his extraordinary heroism during the Cold War. The announcement follows a decade-long advocacy effort led by U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and the recent passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military distinction. For Williams, now a resident of California, the award marks the culmination of a 70-year journey to have his classified actions fully recognized by the country he served.

A “Real-Life Top Gun”

On November 18, 1952, then-Lieutenant Williams performed what many naval historians consider one of the greatest feats in aviation history. While flying an F9F Panther, Williams engaged seven Soviet MiG-15s—aircraft that were technologically superior to his own in nearly every capacity.

In the only direct overwater combat between U.S. Navy and Soviet fighters during the Cold War, Williams successfully protected Task Force 77 from enemy attack. However, due to the extreme geopolitical tensions of the era, the details of the dogfight were immediately classified, keeping Williams’ heroics in the shadows for over 60 years.

“Royce Williams is a real-life Top Gun, a true American hero, and will now be a recipient of our nation’s highest military award,” said Senator Rounds. “These awards were hard-earned and well-deserved. I’m pleased that President Trump and his team made the determination that Captain Williams is deserving of this honor.”

The Road to Recognition

A series cleared the path to the Medal of Honor of legislative and administrative hurdles:

·        2016: The combat files were officially declassified, allowing research to begin.

·        2021: Senator Rounds initiated a formal push, requesting gun camera footage and expedited record searches from the National Archives.

·        2023: Following meetings between Rounds and Navy leadership, Williams’ Silver Star was upgraded to the Navy Cross, the second-highest naval decoration.

·        2026: A provision in the NDAA, sponsored by Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), exempted Williams from the standard five-year award window, allowing the President to finalize the upgrade to the Medal of Honor.

White House Ceremony Pending

Williams will be honored at a formal ceremony at the White House, with the specific date to be announced soon. The recognition ensures that a legendary chapter of South Dakota and U.S. Naval history is finally etched into the permanent record of American valor.