Having A Bad Day? One Tuesday For 100-Year-Old War Hero Was Literally Unfathomable

President Donald Trump said he will honor a 100-year-old Navy veteran with the Medal of Honor for a secret 35-minute dogfight against seven Soviet jets that happened more than 70 years ago.

Trump called retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams on Tuesday to deliver the news, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Williams, an Escondido, California resident who turns 101 this spring, listened via a speakerphone as Trump told his caregiver,

“We’re going to put that very beautiful medal over his very strong neck,” Trump said to the veteran’s caregiver. “It is the ultimate honor, so you’ve got to shake his hand for me.”

Williams responded, “This is wonderful. As you know, I’m quite an old man — 100 plus.” (RELATED: Officials Identify Missing WWII Soldier Over 80 Years After His Death)

Republican California Rep. Darrell Issa addressed the president’s decision in a press release from his office. He called Williams “a Top Gun pilot like no other, and an American hero for all time.”

On Nov. 18, 1952, then-Lt. Williams launched from the USS Oriskany in his F9F-5 Panther fighter for a combat air patrol mission over the Sea of Japan, Task & Purpose reported. When his flight leader turned back due to mechanical issues, Williams found himself and his wingman alone against seven Soviet MiG-15s.

BREAKING NEWS: @realDonaldTrump
has just informed my friend, constituent, and 100 year-old hero Royce Williams that he will be receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I call Royce “The Secret Soldier of the Forgotten War” — and his exploits as a jet pilot taking on Soviet… pic.twitter.com/DhU2elfYfK

— Rep. Darrell Issa (@repdarrellissa) February 4, 2026

The fight lasted 35 minutes and Williams ended up by himself after his wingman chased the first MiG he shot down, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. He ultimately shot down four enemy jets despite flying an aircraft viewed as the MiG-15’s inferior.

“In the moment I was a fighter pilot doing my job,” Williams told Task % Purpose. “I was only shooting what I had.”

His plane took 263 bullet holes. He landed back on the carrier with no ammunition and said enemy fire “knocked out” hydraulics, Task & Purpose reported.

The U.S. government ordered Williams to keep the incident classified because they didn’t want the Soviets to know they had access to his communications, according to DVIDS. He kept it even from his wife, only telling her after he was told it was declassified. He kept it from his brother, who was also a naval aviator, NBC 7 San Diego reported. The dogfight became public information in 2016.

Williams received a Silver Star after the mission. That award was upgraded to the Navy Cross in 2023 as his supporters have continued to press for recognition, Stars and Stripes reported. The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act removed the five-year time limit for Medal of Honor consideration.

“This is the fulfillment of a lifetime,” Williams told the San Diego Union-Tribune. The White House has not announced a date for the ceremony.