Category: This great Nation & Its People
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Royce Williams
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Williams in 1973
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| Birth name | Elmer Royce Williams |
| Nickname | Royce |
| Born | 4 April 1925
Wilmot, South Dakota, U.S.
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| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Service years | 1943–1980 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | USS Eldorado, CVW-11, VF-33[1] |
| Known for | Downing four Soviet MiG-15s in one engagement during the Korean War |
| Conflicts | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
Elmer Royce Williams[2] (born 4 April 1925) is a retired United States Navy (USN) naval aviator. He is known for his solo dogfight with seven Soviet pilots during the Korean War in 1952, which military experts have called “one of the greatest feats in aviation history”.[3] Originally awarded the Silver Star in 1953 for his conduct during the dogfight, in 2023 he was given an upgrade to the Navy Cross, the Navy’s second highest decoration. In 2026, Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor.[4] Williams is the last living Medal of Honor recipient of the Korean War.[note 1]
Early life and military career
Royce Williams was born on 4 April 1925, and grew up in Wilmot, South Dakota and Clinton, Minnesota.[5] He and his brother aspired to become pilots; both enlisted during World War II, although Royce Williams’ flight training was deferred while he attended college in Minnesota. He qualified as a naval aviator at Pensacola in August 1945.[6]
He learned to fly the F9F-5 Panther jet and was assigned to active duty in the Korean War, during which he flew 70 missions.[3]
In 1952, then-Lieutenant Williams was serving with VF-781 aboard the USS Oriskany as part of Task Force 77. On 18 November 1952, on his second mission of the day, while on combat air patrol near Hoeryong, North Korea, his group of four pilots spotted seven MiG-15s overhead. Two of the other three pilots had to return to the carrier and the MiGs began attacking Williams, putting him into a 35-minute dogfight with seven MiG-15s.[7] It is believed to be the longest dogfight in U.S. Navy history.[3] Commanders on his carrier ordered him away, but Williams had to tell them that he was already fighting for his life.[8] He shot down four of the MiGs and likely hit two others.[9] By the end of the 35-minute period, only one of the MiGs was still in the air with him, and he managed to escape back to his carrier, out of ammunition and having lost his hydraulics. He was uninjured, but 263 holes were counted in his Panther jet. Some accounts state that he never saw the plane again as it was pushed into the sea.[7]
The story of his battle with the Soviet MiGs led to Williams being debriefed at the time by admirals, the Secretary of Defense, and a few weeks later by newly inaugurated President Dwight D. Eisenhower.[8] These authorities decided to cover up the specifics of the battle, because the Soviet Union was not officially a combatant in the Korean War and it was feared that publicity about the air battle would draw the Soviets further into the conflict. The dogfight was scrubbed from U.S. Navy and National Security Agency records, and Williams was sworn to secrecy about the incident—so much so that he never told anyone about it, not even his wife nor his pilot brother, until the Korean War records were declassified in 2002.[3] The record of the incident in Navy records said only that he shot down one enemy (not listed as “Soviet”)[8] plane and damaged another, for which he was awarded the Silver Star in 1953.[10]
However, the dogfight was recorded in Soviet archives which were released after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. The Soviet records say that only one of four MiGs returned to base. A 2014 Russian book, Red Devils over the Yalu: A Chronicle of Soviet Aerial Operations in the Korean War 1950–53, describes the battle and mentions Williams. The four MiGs were flown by Soviet Naval Aviation pilots, with Captain Beliakov and Lieutenants Pakhomkin and Vandaev being shot down, and Lieutenant Pushkarev returning to base.[11]
In his book Holding the Line about Task Force 77, Thomas McKelvey Cleaver described the fight, saying “On November 18, 1952, Royce Williams became the top-scoring carrier-based naval aviator and the top-scoring naval aviator in a Navy jet of the ‘forgotten war’.” He added, “In the fight of his life, Royce Williams had accomplished what no other American fighter pilot would ever accomplish: shoot down four MiG-15s in one fight.”[6]
Between 1965 and 1967, he flew 110 missions in A-4 Skyhawks and F-4 Phantoms from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War.[12] Williams was the commanding officer of the command ship USS Eldorado between September 1969 and January 1971.[2] He retired from the Navy as a captain in 1980. In retirement, he lives in Escondido, California.[9]
A 50+ year secret
Williams maintained his secrecy about his aerial feat for decades. After the information was declassified, he shared his story with close friends and spoke about it at small gatherings. His story first received national attention when the American Legion Magazine published a cover story in November 2017.
In the story, Williams detailed the aerial battle, his vow of secrecy and his other military service. Williams, a longtime member of The American Legion, also received support from the national organization. In August 2017, the Legion’s National Executive Committee approved Resolution 70, which calls for the Legion to petition Congress and the Department of Defense to award the Medal of Honor to recognize Williams.
Medal of Honor campaign
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In 2014, retired Rear Admiral Doniphan Shelton became aware of Williams’ feat, and he began an unsuccessful years-long campaign for the Navy or Department of Defense to recommend him for the Medal of Honor for his exploit. Shelton said that Williams’ heroism was “unmatched either in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or since then”.[13] On 14 July 2022, a bipartisan group of five congressmen persuaded the House of Representatives to approve an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act which would waive the statute of limitations for a potential Medal of Honor for Williams. The amendment and bill were approved for the House version of the bill, which were then forwarded to the United States Senate, which removed the provision in conference.[14][9][15]
In December 2022 Williams was awarded the Navy Cross as an upgrade of the Silver Star the Navy awarded him in 1953.[16] The award was approved by U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who said, “Having reviewed the findings of now numerous investigations related to the case of Capt. Royce Williams, I have determined this case to be special and extraordinary. His actions clearly distinguished himself during a high-risk mission and deserve proper recognition.”[17]
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On 4 February 2026, Williams’ congressman Darrell Issa announced confirmation from President Donald Trump that Williams would be receiving the Medal of Honor.[18] The award was received at the 2026 State of the Union Address on 24 February 2026, presented by First Lady Melania Trump.[4] Following the awarding, Williams is the last living Korean War Medal of Honor recipient.[19]
Medal of Honor Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 18 November 1952 while leading a division of three jet fighters attached to Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE (VF-781) and embarked on the USS ORISKANY. While flying a combat patrol mission over the northeastern coastal waters of enemy-held North Korea, Lieutenant Williams demonstrated extraordinary heroism by intercepting a superior force of attacking enemy MiG-15 fighters in order to protect the ships of Task Force 77. After thwarting the enemy’s initial attack, he maneuvered his aircraft to make two firing passes on one MiG, which then spiraled into the sea. He inflicted heavy damage to a second MiG-15, which started smoking badly and retired from the fight. When his own aircraft was severely damaged by a direct hit from one of the remaining enemy MiG-15s, Lieutenant WIlliams evaded further enemy attack while continuing to direct the dogfight. He eventually found cover in a cloud bank, broke off the engagement, and miraculously landed his nearly uncontrollable aircraft on the USS ORISKANY. His exceptional airmanship, coupled with his complete disregard for his own personal safety, resulted in the destruction of three enemy MiG-15s and severe damage to a fourth, and undoubtedly saved the lives of hundreds of Task Force 77 sailors. By his undaunted courage, bold initiative, and total devotion to duty, Lieutenant Williams reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[20]
Awards and decorations
His medals include the Medal of Honor, the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.[5][12]
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| Badge | Naval Aviator Badge | ||
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| 1st row | Medal of Honor | ||
| 2nd row | Legion of Meritwith “V” Device | Distinguished Flying Crosswith 5⁄16-inch star | Bronze Star Medal |
| 3rd row | Meritorious Service Medalwith 5⁄16-inch star | Air Medalwith 10 5⁄16-inch stars | Navy Commendation Medalwith “V” Device |
| 4th row | Navy Unit Commendationwith 1 Service star | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | China Service Medal |
| 5th row | American Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medalwith ‘Asia’ clasp |
| 6th row | National Defense Service Medalwith 1 Service star | Korean Service Medalwith 3 Campaign stars | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| 7th row | Vietnam Service Medalwith 4 Campaign stars | Korean Presidential Unit Citation | RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citationwith Palm |
| 8th row | Korean Presidential Unit Citation | United Nations Service Medal Korea | Korean War Service MedalRetroactively awarded, 2003 |
Foreign awards
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| Order of Military MeritTaeguk Cordon Medal |
In popular culture
In 2020, a 20-minute documentary, Actions Speak Louder Than Medals – the Royce Williams Story, directed by John Mollison, was screened at the GI Film Festival, San Diego.[21] Captain Royce Williams dictated his life story to author W. Craig Reed for publishing in the book The 7 Secrets of Neuron Leadership, the only book in print with Royce’s full biographical life story. Reed lives near Royce and spent many nights on his balcony listening to his incredible “sea stories.” Royce notes that President Eisenhower convinced him to switch from bourbon to scotch, however, Reed introduced Royce to Monkey Shoulder scotch, which is now the only drink he prefers.
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Eric Slover
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CW5 Eric Slover receiving the Medal of Honor
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| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Chief Warrant Officer 5 |
| Unit | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) |
| Conflicts | War in Afghanistan 2026 United States intervention in Venezuela |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross (2) with one valor device Bronze Star (3) Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal (4) Air Medal (4) |
Eric Slover is a United States Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during Operation Absolute Resolve.[1] During the operation, Slover was a MH-47 Chinook pilot in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), colloquially known as the Night Stalkers.[2][3]
Military career
Slover enlisted in the Army in 2005. After completing basic training he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school, becoming a Chinook pilot.[4]
Afghanistan
While assisting in a medical evacuation in the Badghis Province in November of 2009 with the 82nd Airborne Division, a helicopter Slover was piloting was pierced by a rocket-propelled grenade. The munition failed to explode and remained in the helicopter for the duration of the flight. After landing, Slover was the first off the Chinook to get explosives experts and help for the wounded. This medical evacuation mission was described in 2009 as one of the “biggest of the Afghan War”.[5][6]
Operation Absolute Resolve
During the American raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Slover was the flight lead in the cockpit of the first helicopter, a MH-47 Chinook. The helicopter came under severe machine-gun fire and Slover was hit four times in his leg and hip. Maintaining control of the aircraft despite his wounds, Slover safely landed the helicopter, allowing the operation to continue. Slover was awarded the Medal of Honor by US President Donald Trump at the 2026 State of the Union Address.[7] Slover was one of two men to receive the Medal of Honor during the address, alongside the 100-year-old US Navy Captain E. Royce Williams, a veteran of the Korean War.[8] This was the first time the Medal of Honor had been awarded at the State of the Union Address.[9]
Medal of Honor citation
Chief Warrant Officer Five Eric A. Slover distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, above and beyond the call of duty, on January 3, 2026, during a mission in Venezuela, in support of Operation Absolute Resolve. Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover piloted his MH-47 as the lead aircraft of the operation, tasked with executing a highly complex infiltration through hostile Integrated Air Defense Systems to safely deliver military forces. During ingress, Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover skillfully led the helicopter force through a dense jungle valley in a mountainous region, navigating marginal weather conditions, numerous topographical hazards, and near insurmountable surface to air threats. Upon touching down at the designated landing zone, Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover’s aircraft was immediately engaged by multiple machine gun positions at close range. The hostile fire resulted in 15 armor-piercing rounds entering his cockpit, with four rounds striking his leg. Despite the intense and effective enemy fire, and at great personal risk, Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover maintained his situational awareness and aircraft’s position in the line of fire to ensure the safe infiltration of the military forces. After the force disembarked, and despite suffering significant life-threatening injuries, Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover identified hostile heavy machine gun positions that were engaging his aircraft and targeting the ground forces. He maneuvered his aircraft to enable his door gunner to deliver effective fire, successfully neutralizing the threats. Chief Warrant Officer Five Slover’s heroic actions undoubtedly saved countless American lives and ensured the complete and overwhelming success of the mission. His gallantry under fire and extraordinary valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.[10]
Personal life
Slover is a graduate of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Norwich University located in Northfield, Vermont.[11] His wife, Amy, blessed his dog tags with holy water before the mission that resulted in his Medal of Honor-winning actions.[12]
Awards
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References
Much has been written about the M14, most of it about the rifle’s development and surprisingly little about its use in combat. The select-fire M14’s time in action was relatively short, but those who fired it in anger during the Vietnam War will never forget the last American military rifle constructed of walnut and steel.
The M14 Concept
At the end of World War II, the U.S. Military had an unusually high number of small arms types, using a wide range of ammunition: the M1911 pistol (.45 ACP), the Thompson and M3A1 submachine guns (.45 ACP), the M1 Carbine (.30 Carbine), the M1903 Springfield and M1 Garand rifles (.30-06), the Browning Automatic Rifle (.30-06), and the Browning M1917 (water-cooled) and M1919 (air-cooled) machine guns (.30-06). All of these were fine weapons, but U.S. small arms logistics had become unduly complex.
During 1944, U.S. Ordnance began development of a new cartridge—the 7.62mm T65. This would later be slightly modified (during 1954) to become the standard 7.62×51 NATO round. To fire it, a new M14 rifle would update the proven M1 rifle, leveraging the new NATO round to specifically replace the Garand and the squad-automatic BAR—while it was also believed that the selective-fire M14 eliminated the need for submachine guns.
The M14 concept represented practical thinking: a single rifle filling multiple roles while using the same ammunition. From a logistical standpoint, it all makes sense. However, in actual practice no military has ever been able to make it work across the board. Specialized troops with special weapons exist for a reason. But, on its own, the M14 and its powerful cartridge had much to offer.
Changing Times, Evolving Enemies
Behind the Iron Curtain in the 1950s, the Soviets slowly developed the SKS rifle and AK-47 rifle (both chambered in 7.62x39mm). When the AK-47 finally entered service in 1956, U.S. Ordnance described the new weapon as a “submachine gun”, and the Kalashnikov design was not given much credence—U.S. Ordnance particularly disdained the Soviet intermediate cartridge. Meanwhile, the M14 was adopted as the U.S. Military’s standard rifle in 1957.
By the early 1960s, the U.S. mindset about battle rifles was challenged by a growing number of insurgent actions around the world. The light weight and high firepower of the communist AK-47 made guerrilla forces more competitive on the battlefield than ever before.
In response, U.S. Ordnance quickly placed its focus on the AR-15 rifle, and by 1963 more than a thousand of the 5.56mm rifles had been tested in Vietnam. U.S. Special Forces adopted the AR-15 during 1963, and with favorable reports on the new rifle and its ammunition coming from Southeast Asia, momentum was quickly building for a change in battle rifles. In March 1964, the M16 rifle entered large-scale production, and by 1969 it had become the U.S. Military’s standard service rifle.
The M14 in Vietnam
Modern evaluations of the M14’s combat performance seem to quickly devolve into shouting matches between fans of the M14 and the M16. Suffice it to say that they are both excellent rifles, and no shooter is “wrong” if they have a preference. Also, it is important to remember that given a choice, an infantryman will choose everything. He wants light weight coupled with great firepower. He wants reliability and accuracy. He wants tremendous shoot-through-coverand man-stopping knock-down power. Coupled with that he wants all the magazine capacity he can get.
And while no one begrudges the infantryman his many wants in a battle rifle, there has never been a firearm that gives him everything he desires in just one gun. Ultimately, the American fighting man uses what he is issued, and he has an irrefutable history of using his service arms well.
Could the U.S. Military have performed just as well on the battlefields of Vietnam if the M16 had not replaced the M14 as the primary rifle? I believe the battlefield results would have been similar, as the combat qualities of the American rifleman have always been paramount. Advanced training in marksmanship and fire control could overcome the M14’s less-than manageable qualities when used as a full-auto weapon, and it was also more than capable in semi-auto mode.
Modifications to the M14 were certainly necessary, beginning with a fiberglass stock to replace the original walnut and birch types that tended to swell in the jungle environment. Meanwhile, every infantryman tends to find his rifle to be too heavy at some point. At 10.5 lbs. loaded, the M14 was about 2 lbs. heavier than the AK-47 or the M16, and comments from the troops often reflect this. U.S. troops in WWII complained that the M1 rifle was too heavy as well—but the large amount of deceased Axis troops suggest that the Garand rifle’s performance was just fine.
As a counterpoint to the weight issue, the M14’s 7.62x51mm cartridge was powerful enough to muscle through jungle foliage. Marines describe that, in the absence of an M60 machine gun, the M14 offered the next strongest alternative. In Vietnam, the tactical conditions could vary greatly between one firefight and the next, and the M14 rifle could deliver a high level of firepower, with good accuracy at longer range, whenever called upon. And it certainly earned a legion of fans in the jungles of Vietnam.
From the Source
I recently spoke to an old friend who had considerable experience “in country,” and with a wide variety of U.S. infantry weapons. Captain Dale Dye enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1964. He served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967 through 1970, surviving 31 major combat operations. He emerged from Southeast Asia with numerous decorations, including a Bronze Star for valor and three Purple Heart medals for wounds suffered in combat.
He spent 13 years as an enlisted Marine, rising to the rank of master sergeant. He was chosen to attend officer candidate school and was appointed a warrant officer in 1976. He later converted his commission and was a captain when he was sent to Beirut with the multinational peacekeeping force in 1982-83.
When I asked him about the M14, Captain Dye commented: “The M14 was a rifleman’s rifle and most Marines carried it with enthusiasm early in the Vietnam War. I can distinctly remember guys trying to hide their favorite M14 when the word came down that we were going to be issued the M16.
Despite the best efforts by some commands, many Marines continued to carry an M14 for quite some time after the switch-over was ordered. There was just a certain factor of trust in that rifle. Or maybe it was some kind of Marine Corps ‘mojo’ but it seemed reassuring to carry a weapon that looked, felt and shot like a ‘real’ rifle.”
It’s All Relative
Taste, and trust in rifles is clearly a generational issue. My father was an infantry sergeant in World War II. When he looked at an M16, he thought they were not “proper” rifles. My grandfather, a World War I infantryman, would likely have looked at the M1 Garand with suspicion, considering it inelegant and brutish compared to his M1903 Springfield rifle. My brothers and I considered rifles like the M16 to be completely normal, and truly appreciate the semi-auto AR-15 variants designed for the civilian market.
Combat seems to have an “evening-out effect” about the opinions of small arms. In that light, many of the combat lessons learned in Vietnam about the capabilities of the M14 were overlooked. Since the turn of the millennium, our military has been “rediscovering” the rugged M14’s powerful capability, much to the dismay of America’s enemies.
Alongside the select-fire M4 Carbines and M16 rifles serving on the battlefield, the U.S. Military M14 also serves. Elements of the U.S. Special Operations Command use the Mk14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (the EBR) as a designated marksman rifle, and in Afghanistan the U.S. Army assigns two M14 EBR-RI rifles per infantry platoon.
Civilian-Legal Sibling
While the M14 is still serving as a U.S. Military rifle, civilian shooters can thank Springfield Armory of Geneseo, Illinois, for offering a semi-automatic, civilian-legal version of this rifle in its M1A. Proven on the competition fields and exhibiting the timeless beauty of wood and steel (although you can get it with a black composite stock if you so desire), the M1A is a wonderful opportunity to own the civilian sibling of a proven American service rifle.