Trump tells Escondido Navy veteran Royce Williams he will receive Medal of Honor for 1952 dogfight
A long-delayed recognition for a Korean War air battle kept secret for decades
President Donald Trump has informed retired U.S. Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, a 100-year-old Escondido resident, that he will receive the Medal of Honor for actions during the Korean War, according to a statement released Feb. 4, 2026, by Rep. Darrell Issa, whose district includes North County communities.
The planned award centers on an aerial engagement on Nov. 18, 1952, when Williams, then a Navy lieutenant flying an F9F-5 Panther from the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, fought multiple MiG-15 jet fighters during a mission tied to the protection of U.S. Navy Task Force 77. Accounts associated with the case describe a roughly 35-minute dogfight in which Williams shot down four MiG-15s and returned his heavily damaged aircraft to the carrier.
How the case moved from a Silver Star to the nation’s highest military decoration
Williams’ actions were initially recognized with a Silver Star awarded in 1953. The episode later became part of a broader effort to reassess the level of recognition, a process that in military awards cases typically depends on documentation, witness accounts, and legal timing requirements.
In late 2022, the Secretary of the Navy approved an upgrade of Williams’ Silver Star to the Navy Cross. A public ceremony presenting the Navy Cross took place on Jan. 20, 2023, in San Diego at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The Navy’s public description of the upgrade characterized the case as “special and extraordinary” and tied the mission to the defense of naval forces operating in the region.
Why secrecy mattered to the timeline
Williams’ supporters have argued that Cold War sensitivities contributed to the incident being tightly held for years, delaying broader public awareness and complicating later efforts to revisit the award level. Public summaries of the case also reference later-released Soviet-era records as part of the evidentiary picture used by advocates seeking an upgrade.
The Medal of Honor is awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, and its review process can involve multiple levels of military and executive-branch approval.
What comes next
The announcement indicates presidential intent to award the Medal of Honor, but it does not, by itself, provide a date for the ceremony or details about final administrative steps. The Issa statement framed the decision as the culmination of a years-long effort to secure the highest recognition for the 1952 mission.
Recipient: Retired Capt. E. Royce Williams, U.S. Navy, Escondido
Action date: Nov. 18, 1952 (Korean War)
Prior awards: Silver Star (1953), upgraded to Navy Cross (approved 2022; presented Jan. 20, 2023)
Current development: Feb. 4, 2026 announcement that Trump informed Williams he will receive the Medal of Honor