Who Is E. Royce Williams, the Veteran Recognized at the State of the Union?

On Tuesday night, during the State of the Union address, retired U.S. Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, 100, finally received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a Korean War fighter pilot, marking the first time a president presented the nation’s highest military honor during the annual address to Congress.

Although it’s been more than 73 years since Williams fought one of the most consequential air battles in U.S. military history, his heroic actions over the Sea of Japan remained classified, a secret he had to hold for decades. Now the full account is part of the historical record, and the South Dakota native’s courage has been brought into the open and recognized on the national stage.

Outnumbered seven to one

On Nov. 18, 1952, Williams launched from the USS Oriskany in an F9F-5 Panther and ran into seven Soviet MiG-15s.

His flight leader turned back with a fuel pump issue. Then, his wingman peeled away chasing a falling aircraft, leaving Williams alone.

What followed was a seven-on-one fight that lasted 35 minutes, the longest aerial battle in U.S. military history.

Flying what was widely considered an inferior aircraft, Williams shot down four MiG-15s. No other American fighter pilot has ever downed four MiG-15s in a single engagement.

Near the end of the dogfight, with Williams running low on ammunition, a 37-millimeter round tore through his fuselage. Had it struck six inches to the right or left, it would have killed him. Despite the extensive damage to his aircraft, he made a near-perfect landing back on the deck of the Oriskany.

Then he was told to keep quiet.

Battle kept classified

The Soviet Union was not an official combatant in the Korean War, and for decades, with Cold War tensions high, the Navy kept details of Williams’ encounter with Soviet pilots classified. After it was finally declassified in 2016, supporters of Williams campaigned to upgrade his wartime recognition, resulting in the Silver Star he received in 1953 being elevated to a Navy Cross.

For half a century, one of the most consequential air battles in American history lived in silence — locked in classified files and carried only in the memory of the pilot who flew it — until it was finally brought into the open and recognized on the national stage.

Williams retired from the Navy in 1980 and today lives in San Diego, California. In addition to the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross, he is a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.