A Century of Courage: The Incredible Story of Hidden Meadows Resident Royce Williams
Hidden Meadows is home to many fascinating people, each with a story worth telling — but few lives compare to that of Royce Williams. Now 100 years old, Royce’s journey from a small-town boy to a decorated war hero reads like something out of a Hollywood film.
Royce was born in Wilmont, South Dakota, into a family of homesteaders who built sod homes on the cold plains of the Midwest. When he was 11, his family moved to Clinton, Minnesota, where he spent his teenage years. It was there, just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, that his father encouraged Royce and his older brother to enlist and serve their country. Royce was only 16 years old.
Two months after Pearl Harbor, his remarkable military career began — one that would span 37 years, take him around the world, and see him rise through the ranks as aviation technology evolved from canvas biplanes to powerful jet fighters.
While his career included countless missions and honors, it’s one “secret mission” during the Korean War that forever etched Royce’s name into military legend.
During an aerial engagement with Russian MiG fighter jets — the number of which is still debated, ranging from three to seven — Lt. Williams found himself alone in the sky, vastly outnumbered. In a dogfight that lasted 35 minutes, he managed to shoot down five enemy aircraft, sustaining heavy damage to his own F9F Panther. When he finally landed back on the USS Oriskany, the jet was riddled with 263 bullet holes, and every one of its 760 rounds of 20mm ammunition had been fired.
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Linda’s Native Garden
By Linda Collins-Mitchell / Resident
Two years ago, I made the decision to begin converting my yard to native plants that are unique to our microenvironment here in Hidden Meadows. Through volunteering with the Escondido Creek Conservancy on their restoration project at the Mountain Meadow Preserve, I have gained valuable knowledge and experience. As you walk through any undeveloped area in our neighborhood, you can spot some of these native plants. While they may appear a bit shaggy at the moment, most of them can be trimmed and shaped to fit your garden preferences.
Some of the easiest native plants to grow include black sage, California sage, and monkey flower. Additionally, ceanothus, buckwheat, and Mountain Mahogany thrive once established and require no further care. Sugar bush, lemonade berry, and elderberry are also well-suited to our area. (I personally avoid Laurel Sumac because I am allergic to it, and it can quickly take over a space.)
I am currently adding Hollyleaf Red Berry, Hollyleaf Cherry, Chaparral Mallow, and a few colorful annuals that are not commonly seen around here but do grow in our region. The San Diego Native Plant Society offers seeds for many
of these plants, and I look forward to attending their annual sales. I have purchased seeds for San Diego Sunflower and California Fuchsia, as well as potted plants like Wooly Blue Curls and Showy Penstemon, among others.
If you are interested in researching native plants, Calscape.org is a wonderful resource. The site allows you to search for plants by pollinators, butterflies, drought tolerance, and more. My long-term goal is to create an attractive native landscape across my 4.5 acres. While this will take years to achieve, I am truly enjoying the process of learning about these plants and transforming my yard.
