To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor during the Korean War.
This bill, H.R. 1819, introduced in the House by Rep. Darrell Issa, would authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor during the Korean War. It specifically waives the usual time limits for awarding certain medals, allowing the Medal of Honor to be considered for Williams despite any standard deadlines. The bill rests on a detailed findings section that recounts Williams’ actions on November 18, 1952, when he, as a Navy lieutenant, engaged multiple Soviet MiG-15s, downed several aircraft, endured extensive damage to his own plane, and made a daring finish to his mission aboard the USS Oriskany. The authorization is discretionary—the President would decide whether to award the Medal of Honor based on those acts of valor. The bill adds context by noting Williams’ long naval career, prior Silver Star recognition (later upgraded to the Navy Cross in 2023), and newly disclosed evidence and witnesses (including a National Security Agency unit) that support his heroism. It does not create new programs or funding; rather, it adjusts the eligibility window and directs that the Medal of Honor may be awarded to Williams for the cited actions.
Key Points
- 1Waiver of Time Limitations: The bill suspends the usual time restrictions for awarding the Medal of Honor, allowing the President to award it to E. Royce Williams for the 1952 actions notwithstanding standard deadlines (under 10 U.S.C. 8298 and related provisions).
- 2Authorization for the Medal of Honor: The President may award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor described in the bill’s findings, specifically his actions on November 18, 1952 as a Navy lieutenant during the Korean War.
- 3Acts of Valor Described: Williams’ actions included engaging seven Soviet MiG-15s with a small flight element, downing four and possibly five, continuing to fight despite engine and instrument damage, and landing safely on the USS Oriskany at high speed after sustaining heavy battle damage.
- 4Supporting Findings: The findings recount details such as the engagement’s duration, the record-setting nature of the sortie, damage to Williams’ aircraft, friendly fire risks, the fact that his heroism was witnessed by early NSA covert reconnaissance units, and later historical disclosures that underscore the significance of his actions.
- 5Previous Recognitions and Context: Williams previously received the Silver Star (later upgraded to the Navy Cross in 2023). The bill frames the Medal of Honor as a legitimate next step to fully recognize his extraordinary valor.
- 6Legal Framework: The bill references the appropriate statutes governing Medal of Honor awards (10 U.S.C. sections on the Medal of Honor and time limitations) and uses them as the basis for the requested waiver and authorization.
- 7Procedural Status: The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the Committee on Armed Services; sponsor and further legislative steps are not specified in the text provided.