From Liberation to Dogfight: Two American Veterans Recognized on a National Stage

Washington, D.C. (February 26, 2026) – During this year’s State of the Union address, two American veterans—each from a defining chapter of 20th-century conflict—were recognized before a national audience.

World War II veteran George “Buddy” Taggart attended the address as a guest in the gallery, where President Donald J. Trump honored him for his role in helping liberate one of the largest Japanese internment camps in the Philippines 81 years ago. Taggart, who will turn 100 on July 4, earned both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star during his service overseas. His presence in the chamber represented a living connection to the generation that fought across two oceans to secure Allied victory.

The evening also included one of the nation’s highest military recognitions.

During the address, President Trump awarded retired U.S. Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism during the Korean War.

On November 18, 1952, flying from the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany with Fighter Squadron 781, Williams engaged multiple enemy MiG-15 fighters in the skies over North Korea. In a 35-minute aerial battle—alone and outnumbered—he shot down three MiGs and damaged a fourth while defending Task Force 77 and the sailors aboard its ships.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described Williams as a warrior who “stood his ground, took the fight to the enemy, and protected his fellow Americans,” while Secretary of the Navy John Phelan noted that his courage and airmanship upheld the highest traditions of naval service.

Following the address, Williams was formally inducted into the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes in a ceremony attended by family members, fellow naval aviators, and senior Navy leaders.

Despite the historic recognition, Williams responded with characteristic humility.

“I never imagined myself or allowed myself to think it was going to happen to me,” he said. “This is God doing something unusual… I was the principal, in a way, that is receiving the recognition.”

Born in Wilmot, South Dakota, Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army at 16 before entering the Naval Aviation Cadet program in 1943.. He flew 70 missions in Korea and more than 110 combat missions in Vietnam, piloting aircraft including the F9F-5 Panther, A-4 Skyhawk, and F-4 Phantom before retiring as a Navy captain in 1980. His Medal of Honor follows earlier recognition with the Silver Star and the Navy Cross.

Williams also has a connection to the Commemorative Air Force, serving as a guest of honor at Wings Over Houston in 2017.

From the liberation of prisoners in the Pacific to a lone dogfight over Korea, the stories of George “Buddy” Taggart and Elmer Royce Williams span two wars and two eras of American service. Their recognition at the State of the Union was more than ceremonial—it was a reminder that history is not abstract. Sometimes, it is seated in the gallery or standing before the nation, still carrying the quiet weight of duty fulfilled.