Central Valley Man Discovers Father Served Alongside Medal of Honor Recipient

Journal entry reveals connection to legendary dogfight with Soviet MiG-15s

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Christopher Garcia, a Central Valley man, discovered that his late father served alongside Medal of Honor recipient Captain Royce Williams aboard the USS Oriskany in the early 1950s. Garcia found a journal entry from his father that details the day of one of the most legendary solo dogfights in military history, when Williams shot down 4 out of 7 Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets.

Why it matters

This personal connection to a local war hero provides a unique window into a pivotal moment in military history that was classified for decades. The story highlights how individual experiences can shed new light on significant events, even years later.

The details

While going through his late father's belongings, Garcia discovered a cruise book from the early 1950s that included photos of his father aboard the USS Oriskany. In the book, Garcia spotted a familiar face - that of Captain Royce Williams, the Escondido war veteran who was recently awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in a legendary 35-minute dogfight against 7 Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets in 1952. Garcia then found his father's journal, which included an entry from November 18th, the same day as Williams' heroic battle.

  • In the early 1950s, Garcia's father served aboard the USS Oriskany.
  • On November 18th, Garcia's father recorded the events of Captain Royce Williams' legendary 35-minute dogfight against 7 Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets in his journal.
  • Captain Royce Williams was recently awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the 1952 dogfight.

The players

Christopher Garcia

A Central Valley man who discovered his late father's connection to Medal of Honor recipient Captain Royce Williams.

Captain Royce Williams

An Escondido war veteran who was recently awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in a legendary 35-minute dogfight against 7 Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets in 1952.

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What they’re saying

“I could see clearly because of their contrails that there were 7, and as they flew over me, I could see that they were MiG-15s. A superior fighter airplane.”

— Captain Royce Williams (10news.com)

“All at once, we got word on the teletype that 7 MiG-15s were sighted 10 miles from the task force.”

— Christopher Garcia's Father (10news.com)

What’s next

Garcia plans to share the story with Captain Royce Williams once the commotion around his Medal of Honor dies down.

The takeaway

This personal connection to a local war hero provides a unique window into a pivotal moment in military history that was classified for decades, highlighting how individual experiences can shed new light on significant events even years later.