Permits Royce Williams To Become Eligible For Congressional Award

California Representative Darrell Issa (CA-48) announced the finalized 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes his legislation that permits U.S. Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams (Ret.) to be eligible to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. The NDAA is expected to be approved by the House and Senate in the coming days before heading to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

Rep. Issa said, “Escondido’s Royce Williams is 100 years young, a Top Gun pilot like no other, and an American hero for all time. The heroism and valor he demonstrated for more than 35 harrowing minutes almost 70 years ago in the skies over the North Pacific and the coast of North Korea saved the lives of his fellow pilots, shipmates, and crew. His story is one for the ages and it now has its rightful chapter as Royce receives the Medal of Honor.”

The account of the dogfight that earned Capt. Williams the Silver Star is nothing short of amazing. On November 18, 1952, Willams was piloting a Grumman F9F-5 Panther when he alone faced off against seven Soviet MiG-15s, very slim odds by any measure. He shot down four of them and survived a 37-mm round to his fuselage which missed him by literal inches. Despite extreme damage to the jet, he made it back to execute a perfect landing on the deck of the USS Oriskany.

Williams was instructed to keep the incident secret, which he did for more than 50 years, including from his wife. In 1992 the Soviets released records which detailed how Williams shot down the four MiGs. For his bravery, Williams was awarded the Silver Star, which was elevated to the Navy Cross in 2023 following a determined campaign led by Rep. Issa and others.

Issa said, “What Royce did is — still to this day — the most unique U.S.-Soviet aerial combat dogfight in the history of the Cold War, and one in which Royce Williams demonstrated indomitable courage of the highest skill under incalculable duress. It is my honor to have fought all these years for Royce to gain a recognition that he has not sought, but so richly deserves.”

FMI:  issa.house.gov/