H.R. 1819: To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor during the Korean War.

This bill, known as H.R. 1819, seeks to authorize the President of the United States to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for his acts of valor during the Korean War. The bill outlines several key points regarding the events of November 18, 1952, involving Williams and his participation in an aerial dogfight against Soviet MiG-15 aircraft.

Key Findings

The bill presents a series of findings that establish the context for Williams' actions:

• On November 18, 1952, while serving as a lieutenant, Williams was part of an airstrike targeting the Hoeryong industrial complex in Korea.
• During this mission, Williams and three other U.S. pilots were confronted by seven Soviet MiG-15s, requiring them to engage in combat under challenging weather conditions.
• Williams, along with his wingman, stayed on station while others returned due to fuel concerns. They engaged in a dogfight, where Williams reportedly shot down four, and possibly five, Soviet aircraft, marking a record for the most MiGs shot down in a single sortie.
• Despite sustaining damage to his aircraft from enemy fire, Williams managed to return to the USS Oriskany, landing successfully despite multiple challenges, including friendly fire and malfunctioning equipment.
• At the time of the dogfight, Williams was initially credited with fewer accomplishments due to a lack of access to key intelligence that later validated the significance of his actions.
• His bravery and skill in the encounter have since been recognized, culminating in the upgrade of his award from a Silver Star to the Navy Cross in January 2023.

Authorization for the Medal of Honor

The bill specifies that:

• The President is given the authority to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for his valorous acts during the noted engagement, despite existing time limitations typically applied to the awarding of military medals.
• It includes a waiver of the standard time restrictions defined under U.S. law regarding the awarding of military honors, allowing for the historical recognition of Williams' contributions more than six decades after the events occurred.

Conclusion of the Bill's Intent

Overall, the bill aims to correct historical oversight and afford E. Royce Williams the recognition he is deemed to deserve for his heroic efforts during a significant moment in military history.

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