Wilmot native Royce Williams to receive Medal of Honor

Published by admin on Fri, 02/20/2026 - 3:43pm

Serving His Country Then-Lt. Royce Williams posed with the F9F Panther he flew when he single-handedly faced off seven Soviet Mig-15s during the Korean War, shooting down four. Two others failed to return to base. His actions were kept secret for 50 years, and now, at age 100, the Wilmot native is about to receive the Medal of Honor for his valor. The plane took 263 hits, including the one that ripped into his engine assembly, disabling every-thing except speed and elevation. ~ Courtesy Photos

Awaiting His Medal of Honor Last week, Royce Williams entertained guests in his home in Escondido, CA. Ever since Williams received a call from President Trump saying he was to receive the Medal of Honor, the indefatigable 100-year-old has been receiving up to 60 phone calls per day from those congratulating him or asking for interviews.

by Mimi Larsen, Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Escondido, CA resident and Wilmot native Capt. (ret’d) Royce Williams received a call from President Donald Trump telling him that he is to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for an incredible encounter in the skies over Korea in 1952. The date and time of the White House ceremony is yet to be determined.

“The President is a busy man, and there are a lot of people controlling his schedule,” Williams said by phone. He speculated the ceremony would take place within a month, and said he’s ready to get on a plane any time.

Rep. Darrell Issa (CA) was among those who campaigned for Williams’ recognition, and said in a statement, “My friend, constituent, and hero Royce Williams is 100 years young, a Top Gun pilot like no other, and an American hero for all time.” It was Issa who introduced legislation to waive the statute of limitations for the award in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to enable Medal of Honor consideration for Williams. For more on this story and many more please purchase a copy of the Sisseton Courier on news stands now or purchase a copy of the E-edtion on this website.

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