The Patriot Post® · Profiles of Valor: CAPT Williams and SSG Ollis
As I have noted before regarding long delays between service rendered and recognized, Medal of Honor nominees are, first and foremost, humble warriors. Inherent in their willingness to “lay down one’s life for his friends” is the ultimate expression of humility, valuing the lives of others above one’s own. Thus, it is not in their nature to advocate for their personal recognition. The advocacy to upgrade a warrior’s prior decoration to a Medal of Honor falls to others — often those with whom the recipient served.
Over the last century, many Medals of Honor have been approved and awarded for actions that occurred decades earlier, most often posthumously. The verification process for valorous actions that may merit a Medal of Honor is very strenuous, making that process more difficult with the passage of time.
However, two of those long-overdue Medal of Honor upgrades have been announced — and the recipients will soon be officially recognized at a White House ceremony.
First among them is CAPT Royce Williams (USN), whom I profiled several years ago.
On 18 November 1952, Willians was flying his second mission of the day near Hoeryong, North Korea, when his squadron spotted seven Soviet MiG-15s high above their formation. Ordered to return to the carrier, his three wingmen turned and burned; however, when one of the MiGs fired on Williams, he turned and engaged.
Of that dogfight, Williams says, “In the moment I was a fighter pilot doing my job. … They had me cold on maneuverability and acceleration. The only thing I could do was out-turn them.”
What followed was a 35-minute dogfight between one Navy pilot and all seven MiGs — in what is the longest dogfight in Naval aviation history. Any seasoned combat aviator will tell you that a one-minute dogfight seems like an eternity. By the end of that fight, Williams had shot down four of the MiGs.
As the remaining MiGs retreated, Williams was able to limp back to his carrier — uninjured but with 263 holes in his Panther jet, including one 23 mm cannon hit. The plane could not be salvaged and was disposed of at sea.
The engagement with the Soviet-piloted MiGs was classified shortly after the incident because the Soviet Union was not an “official” combatant in the Korean War, and if the dogfight was acknowledged, intelligence and defense analysts believed that might draw the USSR further into the conflict. The record of the mission was scrubbed from official Navy records, and Williams was sworn to secrecy — never to speak of the incident.
Until now…
Williams, still going strong at age 100, will soon be officially recognized for his heroic actions with a Medal of Honor.
That recognition was made possible after a long period of advocacy by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), who introduced the “Valor Has No Expiration Act” in 2025 to extend and expand the 1996 National Defense Authorization Act. Issa said: “What Royce did is — still to this day — the most unique U.S.-Soviet aerial combat dogfight in the history of the Cold War, and one in which Royce Williams demonstrated indomitable courage of the highest skill under incalculable duress. It is my honor to have fought all these years for Royce to gain a recognition that he has not sought, but so richly deserves.”
The second recipient upgrade to a Medal of Honor is Army SSG Michael Ollis, a Staten Island, New York, native.
Michael enlisted in 2006 at age 17 after graduating from high school, where he was in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. He attended basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was then deployed to Baumholder, Germany, with the 1st Armored Division. From there, he deployed for a tour in Iraq in 2008 and returned stateside, where he was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky with the 101st Airborne Division. After completing the Air Assault School, he deployed again, this time to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, during Operation Dragon Strike. Returning stateside, he transferred to Fort Drum, New York, with the 10th Mountain Division and, in 2012, completed both Airborne School and Ranger School.
His third combat deployment was to Ghanzi province, Afghanistan, with the 10th Mountain’s 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. It was there on 28 August 2013 that Michael, then 24, was killed in action while defending fellow soldiers from a homicide car-bomber attack. He was attempting to repel an attack by 10 Taliban insurgents and the bomber who had breached the security perimeter of his base.
Michael was posthumously awarded a Silver Star for his actions, which was upgraded to the Army’s second-highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
But after re-evaluation of his actions, President Donald Trump has approved the upgrade of his DSC to a Medal of Honor.
Michael’s parents, who will receive the award on their son’s behalf, said: “We are extremely grateful to the President of the United States for recognizing the heroism of our son … with the Medal of Honor. Knowing that Michael’s life, legacy, and final act of courage have not been forgotten leaves us with a feeling of overwhelming pride and eternal gratitude.”
Honoring his legacy at Fort Drum is the 10th Mountain’s SSG Michael H. Ollis Weapons Training Center.
CAPT Royce Williams and SSG Michael Ollis: Ordinary men faced with extraordinary circumstances, they summoned the greatest measure of courage, placing their lives in imminent peril to save others. Their example of valor — humble American Patriots defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty — is eternal.
“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Live your life worthy of their sacrifice.
(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776
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