PHOTO: Kelly Meets SOTU Medal of Honor Recipient Capt. E. Royce Williams

Kelly led Senate effort to authorize award following decades-long classification

Today, Arizona Senator and retired Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly met with Captain E. Royce Williams, who was awarded the Medal of Honor during last night's State of the Union address.

For years, Kelly led the Senate effort to authorize this long overdue recognition. Because Capt. Williams' heroic actions during the Korean War were classified for decades, the five-year statutory time limitation for him to receive the Medal of Honor had long passed. Kelly first introduced a bipartisan amendment to the defense bill in 2022 to waive the time requirement and then kept working until it got to the finish line last year with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Kelly also signed a letter urging the Secretary of Defense to work with Congress to ensure Capt. Williams received this long-overdue recognition.

Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA-28) led the effort in the House, and the provision was ultimately included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing the President to award the Medal of Honor for Capt. Williams' extraordinary acts of valor during a 1952 aerial combat mission.

"More than seventy years ago, Capt. E. Royce Williams shot down four Soviet MiGs in one dogfight during the Korean War. The dogfight lasted 35 minutes-an eternity for a fighter pilot-and by the end his plane was out of ammunition and badly damaged, and he barely managed to make it back to the aircraft carrier," said Sen. Kelly. "This still stands out as one of the most exceptional and brave feats of naval aviation in our history, but to avoid escalation with the Soviets, the details of the mission were kept secret for decades and Captain Williams wasn't recognized at the time. I'm proud to have helped ensure Captain Williams could finally receive the Medal of Honor he deserves, and I couldn't be prouder to salute a great American."

"Captain E. Royce Williams demonstrated exceptional heroism and airmanship during the Korean War, a noble time in our nation's military history that too often goes underrecognized," said Sen. Sulivan. "Classified for more than half a century, Captain Williams' bravery in a one-man sustained aerial battle against seven Soviet MiG-15 jets stands among the most remarkable feats in naval aviation history. Captain Williams displayed superior tactical judgment, combat skill, and resolve under fire-successfully defending U.S. and allied forces while returning his aircraft safely against all odds. President Trump awarding him the Medal of Honor during the State of the Union Address last night is both justified and necessary to fully honor Captain Williams' service and preserve the integrity of our nation's combat history. I was honored to lead an amendment in the NDAA with Senator Kelly to waive the five-year time limitation on this award, ensuring Captain Williams' extraordinary valor receives the recognition it has long deserved. As both a United States Senator and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, I thank him for his service to our country."

Click HERE for additional photos of Sen. Kelly and Capt. E. Royce Williams.