Trump Awards Congressional Medal of Honor to an American Hero: “Tonight, we have celebrated many truly extraordinary American patriots, but there is one last living legend to honor before we go. Navy Fighter Pilot Royce Williams served in World War Two, Korea, and Vietnam, flying more than 220 missions. In the skies over Korea in 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime. Flying through blizzard conditions, his squadron was ambushed by 7 Soviet fighter planes. It was his first aerial combat of the war, and despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the take-down of four enemy jets, vanquishing his adversaries while taking 263 bullets to his own plane. His story was secret for over 50 years – he didn’t even tell his wife. But tonight, at 100 years old, this brave Navy Captain is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He was a legend long before this evening. Royce, please stand up. I now ask the First Lady of the United States to present Captain Royce Williams with his Congressional Medal of Honor.”
PHOTO: First lady Melania Trump presents the Congressional Medal of Honor to World War II Navy Pilot Capt. Royce Williams during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
