There’s an oft quoted axiom that goes something like, it only takes one black swan to know that they exist.
The meaning behind the swan-quote is that people, over time, assume that all swans are white. But it takes just one black one to prove otherwise. And when that ‘one’ is identified, they’re unforgettable.
What’s that mean for this story? Hold that thought.
Today, 24 February, 2026, CAPT Royce Williams, a U.S. Navy fighter pilot of two wars, has just been awarded America’s highest military award - the Medal of Honor.
Much has been written/produced about the man’s extraordinary combat action on 18 November, 1952. Rightly so. It’s one hell of a war story! For 35+ minutes, Royce fought for his life, alone, in a comparatively obsolete fighter plane against seven superior machines, flown by the Soviet Union’s finest.
It was life or death moment for this kid from Wilmot, South Dakota who, up until then, was just another naval aviator who swore an oath to protect his country.
“Protect,” he did. In that exhausting dogfight over the frigid Sea of Japan, only two made it back home alive. — one utterly defeated Russian* and one depleted, but wholly victorious American.
Royce didn’t suffer a scratch. His airplane, however, was a bloody mess. 260-some hits riddled its thin-skinned body, damaging and/or destroying controls to the point where he had to slam his bleeding Panther jet onto the heaving carrier deck at a speed nearly 70% faster than normal (200mph vs 120mph).
If you’re not attuned to aviation, ask a pilot what it would be like to land their disabled aircraft at 70% higher landing speed. You’ll get the picture.
Anyway, one can imagine the Hollywood scene of cheering deck crew lifting the exhausted warrior from the cockpit…
But that picture-perfect scene never happened. Instead, Royce was plucked from the perforated heap and promptly whisked to secure quarters where he was ordered to never talk about what happened and accept the watered-down ‘official record’**. And he followed orders; Royce kept the secret for nearly fifty years.
It was only until the early 2000s — started by the work of retired Rear Admiral Doniphan Shelton*** — that the story was dug out of the “declassified bin” and brought to light.
Again, much has been written/produced about Royce Williams’ story that five minutes of your own research will leave you stunned. Just click here and discover for yourself. There are some links at the bottom of this post.
BUT.
Back to the idea it only takes one exception to break a rule.
In the span of humanity, thousands of people have been called “hero.” In the past few decades, a billion more have been added to the roster — 99.9% of them completely unaware of just how lofty a label the word “hero” is intended to be. Indeed, the word hero has been diluted like coffee served at a Minnesota church. (joking/not joking).
And we’re all guilty. It’s easy to call someone who’s doing/going-through something challenging ‘a hero.’
Yet, it doesn’t do the word any good. Instinctively, I believe that 99.9% of people agree, too.
To that (ironic) point, a scene from the movie “Bridges at Toko-Ri” comes to mind. Frederick March, playing aircraft carrier Admiral George Tennant reflects on the recent death of a pilot who acted extraordinarily, as father, husband, leader, and warrior, with the thoughtfully whispered phrase…
“Where do we get such men?”
Just this morning, I was on the phone with a highly regarded media producer and he expressed what Royce’s story meant to him. Paraphrasing what he said,
“Royce Williams is a warrior who prevailed, alone, fulfilling his duty with extraordinary excellence during a time when WWIII was as close as it is today. He could have cut and run, but he didn’t.
Royce Williams was a team member within a huge machine who saw the greater good in following a command when he could have grandstanded his way to becoming a million dollar ‘brand.’
Royce Williams retired from service, living a comparatively quiet life, caring for his family (including continually being a father to his developmentally disabled son), joyfully receiving the exponentially increasing fan-club of diverse admirers, and unashamedly encouraging others that they-too can do the work in order to win.”
As the Medal of Honor is a distinctly American award, it’s impossible for this American (me) to separate America from the narrative.
As divided as we are on various issues, I know for a fact the majority of “US” know that while the masses of celebrities, influencers, media, politics, marketers are the rule, the exception is what we’re really looking for.
Today, take note of the name of that exception - CAPT Royce Williams, MoH.
CONGRATULATIONS, ROYCE. You’ve given America our newest, worthy, HERO.
MORE BELOW…
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* Post-combat analysis is confident that Royce knocked down four of the Russian-flown MiG-15s. However, after the fall of the Soviet Union and subsequent opening of Russian archives, evidence is high that Royce should also be credited with two other MiGs that didn’t return to base. No one will correct you if you stand firm in your belief that “Royce bagged six!” Only one MiG-15 is recorded to have returned to their Vladivostok air field.
**Why so secret? Speculation abounds! To start, the Korean War — already a proxy war between Communism and Democracy — was raging and no one wanted to see an undeniable direct conflict between the Russians and the U.S. There was also some state-of-the-art intelligence gathering going on and details of how/what/why/when behind the clash could have revealed crucial, secret tech. And then again, the USS Oriskany ‘may’ have had nukes aboard and some nervous wonk in Russian Defense didn’t like how close the carrier fleet was getting to Russia (hint: the U.S. fleet was well outside of territorial waters). Who knows…?
** RADM Doniphan Shelton is a distinguished Naval aviator in his own right, but is also the rightful Godfather to bringing Royce’s story to light and starting the enormous wave of support for Royce’s recognition.
Resources:
FILM: “Actions Speak Louder than Medals - the Royce Williams Story”
ARTWORK: Royce Williams’ F9F Panther
I came up with the title because at the time (ca. 2020), there were a few moments that indicated Royce may not get the Medal of Honor recognition. I wanted to make a statement to the effect that Royce didn’t need a medal to anything to the rest of us.
Later, when working on the Old Guys and Their Airplanes documentary (with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society), I thought the title fit the film, too.
INFOGRAPHIC: Timeline of Royce’s 18 November combat action (with credit to RADM Shelton). Click to download.
