HC 8012

                  House Commemoration 8012
Introduced by: Representatives Goodwin, Baxter, Emery,      Massie,   Muckey,   and   Van Diepen   and
Senators Duhamel, Howard, Otten, Perry, Reed, and Zikmund
A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION recognizing Captain Royce Williams for his
       exemplary military service and bravery in combat.
   WHEREAS, Royce Williams was raised on a farm near Wilmot, South Dakota, during the
Great Depression, and he grew up embodying the values of hard work, courage, and
leadership; and
   WHEREAS, Royce Williams earned a commission in the United States Navy, became a
naval aviator, and was assigned to fly the F9F Panther while on combat duty off the coast of
North Korea in November of 1952; and
   WHEREAS, Lieutenant Junior Grade Williams was on combat air patrol with a group of
three other pilots on 18 November, 1952, when seven Soviet MiG-15s approaching the US
fleet engaged the fighters; and
   WHEREAS, three of the pilots were ordered to return to the USS Oriskany, but the Soviet
MiG-15s had already fired upon Williams, who was engaged in aerial combat for the next
thirty-five minutes, which is believed to be the longest dogfight in US Navy history, and
Williams shot down four enemy aircraft and damaged two others before ultimately landing his
aircraft back on the deck of the USS Oriskany; and
   WHEREAS, the United States intercepted the Soviet Air Force's transmissions confirming
the hostile intent on the US fleet, the attack, and the loss of Soviet aircraft, but due to the
security classification, Lieutenant Junior Grade Williams was directed never to speak of the
event, and knowledge of the event remained classified until 1990, after Williams retired with
the rank of Captain following a distinguished career; and
   WHEREAS, in December, 2025, the Secretary of the Navy recommended upgrading
Captain Williams' military decoration to the Medal of Honor, and the President of the United
States personally called to inform Captain Royce Williams of his intent to award him the
nation's highest honor for courage in the face of the enemy;
   NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundred First Legislature of the
State of South Dakota, that Captain Royce Williams is recognized for his exemplary military
career and bravery in combat.