Disneyland has named Medal of Honor recipient Capt. E. Royce Williams an Honorary Citizen of Disneyland, and the park’s daily Flag Retreat ceremony on Main Street, U.S.A. was held in his honor. Disney calls the 101-year-old retired Navy aviator the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War.
Williams spent the day at the resort with close friends and fellow retired military aviators. Disneyland Ambassador Michele Mary presented the honorary citizenship in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, a title Disney rarely hands out. It carried extra weight for Williams, who shared that Walt Disney was his hero during World War II because of the animation and artwork the studio produced to support the troops.
Who Royce Williams Is
Williams joined the Navy in 1943 and began training as a naval aviator, going on to fly combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. On November 18, 1952, flying from the USS Oriskany, he found himself facing seven Soviet MiG-15 fighters. According to the Navy, he shot down three of them and badly damaged a fourth in a 35-minute dogfight, which Disney calls the longest in U.S. military history, and much of the story stayed classified for decades. Over his career he flew 70 combat missions in Korea and more than 110 over Vietnam. His 1953 Silver Star for that mission was upgraded to the Navy Cross in 2023.
Recognition for that day over Korea took decades. Williams received the Medal of Honor in February 2026, at 100 years old. “You know you’re at war and your number one job is not protecting yourself it’s accomplishing a mission,” Williams said.
A Flag Retreat For One Guest
Flag Retreat has been part of Disneyland since the park’s early days. Every afternoon, the flag in Town Square comes down in a short ceremony honoring service, sacrifice and patriotism. For Williams, guests gathered around the flagpole as cast members, the Disneyland Band and the Dapper Dans helped honor his legacy.
“This year has been very special for Royce; he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in February, and today Disney is honoring him during the Flag Retreat Ceremony,” said retired Navy Capt. Paul Tanaka, a friend of Williams. “I know this is a special moment he will forever cherish.”
Then came a ride fitting for a fighter pilot. After the ceremony, Williams headed to Disney California Adventure for a flight on Soarin’ Across America, whose queue pays tribute to California’s aviation history. Disney shared photos and details of the visit on October 8.
Military Tickets At Disneyland
Disneyland has offered specially priced theme park tickets throughout 2026 for active and retired U.S. military members and their spouses. They are sold through U.S. military base ticket offices, and eligible service members and veterans can also buy them through GOVX.com with a valid military ID. On the East Coast, Walt Disney World has its own ties to the military community, and the Warrior Games return there in August 2027.
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