Donald L. McFaul

Donald L. McFaul
Donald L. McFaul
Born	September 20, 1957; Orange County, California, U.S.
Died	December 20, 1989 (aged 32); Panama City, Panama
Buried	Pajaro Valley Memorial Park; Watsonville, California
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1975–1985; 1988–1989
Rank	Chief Engineman
Unit	U.S. Navy SEALs SEAL Team 4, Golf Platoon, Naval Special Warfare Task Unit PAPA;
Battles/wars	Operation Just Cause Operation Nifty Package Battle of Paitilla Airport †; ;
Awards	Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star; Combat Action Ribbon; Navy Unit Commendation; Good Conduct Medal with Bronze Star

Donald Lewis McFaul (20 September 1957 – 20 December 1989) was a

USS McFaul (DDG-74)

was named to honor him.

Biography

McFaul attended high school in

Little Creek, Virginia. In December 1989 he deployed to Panama as part of SEAL Team 4.^[3] He was killed during the capture of Paitilla Airfield, Panama City, Panama in the early morning hours of December 20, 1989. According to his Navy Cross citation, he left a position of safety to assist team members under heavy enemy fire. He then carried another team member to safety, but was mortally wounded in the process. His actions saved that team member and were said to inspire other heroic acts that led to the capture of the objective.^[4]

Patricia, his wife, gave birth to his daughter Megan six days after his funeral.[5]

Navy Cross citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving as Platoon Chief Petty Officer of Sea-Air-Land Team FOUR (SEAL-4), GOLF Platoon during Operation JUST CAUSE at Paitilla Airfield, Republic of Panama on 20 December 1989. Chief Petty Officer McFaul's platoon was an element of Naval Special Warfare Task Unit PAPA, whose crucial mission was to deny to General Noriega and his associates the use of Paitilla Airfield as an avenue of escape from Panama. After insertion from sea by rubber raiding craft, Golf Platoon was patrolling toward their objective, a hangar housing General Noriega's aircraft, when they were engaged by heavy small arms fire. Realizing that most of the first squad, 25 meters north of his position, had been wounded, he left the relative safety of his own position in order to assist the wounded lying helplessly exposed. Under heavy enemy fire and with total disregard for his personal safety, Chief Petty Officer McFaul moved forward into the kill zone and began carrying a seriously wounded platoon member to safety. As he was nearing the safety of his own force's perimeter, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Chief Petty Officer McFaul's heroic actions and courage under fire saved his teammate's life and were an inspiration for other acts of heroism as the assault force prevailed in this decisive battle. By his extraordinary bravery, personal sacrifice, and inspiring devotion to duty, Chief Petty Officer McFaul reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Action Date: 20 December 1989

Service: Navy

Rank: Chief Petty Officer