[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E33-E34]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE HEROISM OF CAPTAIN E. ROYCE WILLIAMS, USN (RET.) OF 
                               ESCONDIDO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DARRELL ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 17, 2023

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, on January 20, 2023, the Secretary of the U.S. 
Navy will present Escondido, California resident and retired Navy 
Captain E. Royce Williams the Navy Cross--an appropriate recognition 
and award upgrade that was more than 70 years in the making. On 
November 18, 1952, Williams engaged and won the greatest overwater 
aerial dogfight ever--although for decades, it was officially declared 
by the Pentagon as having never happened.
  Fortunately, the incredible story of Royce Williams is now being 
told--and the Forgotten Hero of the Forgotten War is forgotten no 
longer. This is history every American should know.
  On that day in 1952, Captain Williams and 3 additional American 
pilots--flying the F9F-5 Panther--engaged 7 Soviet MiGs in a fierce 
dogfight over the Sea of Japan and the coast of North Korea. During the 
combat, 2 of the American planes were forced to disengage due to 
mechanical failures while the other pursued Williams' first downed 
enemy plane. Opting not to turn away and inevitably endanger his fellow 
pilots and the entire crew of his carrier, Williams instead turned and 
faced the remaining 6 Soviet aircraft alone.
  Against all but impossible odds, and because of his skill, daring, 
and indomitable courage, only 2 MiGs returned to base. Williams shot 
down the others.
  The stakes could not have been higher. If Williams had not prevailed, 
his fellow pilots and the sailors aboard his carrier could have been 
lost and the history of the Korean War and even the Cold War would be 
very different.
  His plane sustained 263 holes and a foot-long gash--but the only 
injury Williams sustained was a bloody neck chafed by his gear.

[[Page E34]]

He piloted his heavily damaged plane and returned to the carrier USS 
Oriskany, where, unable to slow his descent, he landed dead center of 
the runway but at 170 knots and miraculously engaged the number 3 wire.
  Because of the implications of a ``hot'' engagement in 1952 between 
the United States and the Soviet Union, official records credited 
Williams with only a single kill, 1 damaged enemy, and he was awarded 
the Silver Star. The true account of his actions was classified, and 
Williams was asked--and agreed--to alter his story for the public and 
keep the true account secret.
  Convinced this was a story that needed to be told, Operation Just 
Reward was formed by Royce Williams' determined friends and fellow 
pilots: Doniphan B. Shelton, RADM, USN (Ret.), Greg ``Chaser'' 
Keithley, Peter Rolf Ohnstad, Tammy Sande, Ed ``Dragon'' Riley, Kim A. 
Merrill, Chuck Sweeney, Steve Lewandowski, Chris Yates, and Howard 
Darter. I am honored to have been invited to join this campaign on 
behalf of history's true account of America's true Top Gun--and for 
Royce Williams to gain this recognition that he has not sought, but so 
richly deserves.

                          ____________________