Trump awards South Dakota Naval pilot with Medal of Honor
Royce Williams fought in longest dogfight in U.S. military history against Soviet pilots; downed them all
Retired South Dakota Navy Capt. Royce Williams was awarded the nation’s highest military honor Tuesday night, as President Donald Trump awarded him the Medal of Honor for an engagement that took place more than 70 years ago.
Trump also awarded a Medal of Honor to Army helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover during his State of the Union Speech for Slove’s bravery during January’s commando raid to capture Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro. Maduro was wanted for smuggling drugs into the United States.
The difference between Williams’ Medal of Honor with Slover’s was one of decades. Williams, 100, a Wilmot, South Dakota native, joined the Navy during World War II.
