State Funeral for War Veterans Praises Last Medal of Honor Recipient from the Korean War, Capt. Royce Williams

The Last Medal of Honor Recipient from the Korean War, Capt Royce Williams

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Congressman Joe Barton Presents Patriots Award to Rabel McNutt

The Last Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient will be Honored with the help of a high school girl from Dallas, Rabel McNutt.

DALLAS, TX, UNITED STATES, March 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient will be Honored with the help of a high school girl from Dallas, Rabel McNutt

The State Funeral for War Veterans organization, organized in all 50 states, praises the announcement regarding Korean War Veteran, retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams, who was presented with the Medal of Honor on February 24, 2026 by a grateful nation during the State of the Union Address.

On November 18, 1952, Fighter Pilot Williams engaged seven Soviet MiG-15s alone in his F9F-5 Panther, downing four during a 35-minute dogfight on November 18, 1952. Details of the engagement were long classified to avoid escalating Cold War tensions.

Rabel McNutt, the idea originator and co-founder of State Funeral for War Veterans said: "The last Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War, Capt. Williams deserves the same honors as the last Medal of Honor Recipient from World War II, U.S. Marine Corp Col. Hershel "Woody" Williams. Our mission is to convince Congress to honor the 1.9 million men and women who served in the Korean War, through a national funeral in Washington D.C., for Capt. Williams, when he is reassigned to heaven."

On July 14, 2022, Rabel McNutt and her 50-state organization was successful in honoring those who served in World War II when Hershel "Woody" Williams' flag-draped casket, carried by U.S. Marines, was placed on the historic catafalque (the platform used for such honors) under the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Woody Williams' funeral service included remarks delivered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and minority leader Mitch McConnell. It was the first time in American history that an enlisted man was allowed to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.

This State Funeral for War Veterans organization worked for several years to convince the Congress for the last Medal of Honor recipient from World War II be allowed to lie in honor under the Rotunda in Washington D.C. Born in Wilmot, South Dakota, in 1925, Capt Williams lives in Escondido, California.

The idea that World War II Iwo Jima hero would lie in honor is remarkable in and of itself, but how it happened is a remarkable story too. The idea for a National Funeral for the last Medal of Honor recipients came from an unlikely source, a Dallas schoolgirl, Rabel McNutt. She originated the idea while preparing to attend the funeral of her Godfather, Walt Ehlers, who received his Medal of Honor fighting the Germans in Normandy, France following D-Day in 1944.

“When the last MOH man from World War II, Hershel Woody Williams, was allowed to lie in honor in the Capitol in 2022, it set the precedent for other Medal of Honor recipient from other conflicts, to be allowed the same honor," said Medal of Honor holder James “Doc” McCloughan.

Originally established as State Funeral for World War II Veterans, today the organization exits to convince Congress to honor the last Medal of Honor holder from each conflict as a final salute, starting with the Korean War.

Idea originator Rabel McNutt, now a graduating Senior at The Hockaday School in Dallas, said: “I got to know Korean Medal of Honor Recipient, Hershey Miyamura, who was on our board of directors. He taught me that the men and women who served in the forgotten war on the Korean peninsula deserved to be honored just as much as the men and women of World War II." She continued, "Wherever I attend college this fall, I will have the opportunity to recruit new students and professors of 20th century history to our cause to help me plan this national event with the family of Capt. Williams."

Less than 45 Americans have been allowed to lie in honor in the rotunda of our capital, heroes like Rosa Parks and Billy Graham.

The successful effort of State Funeral War Veterans took 5 years and was driven by the organizations 50 State Chairs who achieved the following:
- 16 state legislatures resolutions supporting the final MOH recipient from WWII to have a national funeral at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
- 15 state Congressional Delegation letters of support
- 11 letters of endorsement from state Governors
- Resolution of support passed by the American Legion at their 100th convention
- Letters of support from the Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, many VFW posts, and other Veteran’s organizations

Former head of the Texas Baptist Convention and National Board Member for State Funeral for War Veterans Dr Danny Reeves said, “It took five years of hard work to organize patriots in all 50 states to push for honoring all the men and women who served through a National Funeral for the last Medal of Honor recipient. Without Woody Williams lying in the rotunda, the last Medal of Honor holder from the Korean War, Capt Royce Williams would not have a chance at this ultimate American honor. But now, we are confident it can happen for Capt Williams if we keep pushing."

Other noted National Board members include former President of Bass Pro Shops, Mr. Ron Ramseyer, Mr. Morris Kahn of Lousiana, and Lee William McNutt of Dallas, Texas.

About State Funeral for War Veterans
Originally established as State Funeral for World War II Veterans, today the organization exists to convince Congress to pass legislation to designate a national funeral for the last Medal of Honor Recipient from the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as a final salute to the millions who served.

Lee William "Bill" McNutt
State Funeral for World War II Veterans
+1 214-537-9311
email us here

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