Don C. Faith, Jr.
| Don Carlos Faith, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Medal of Honor recipient Don Faith |
|
| Born | August 26, 1918 Washington, Indiana |
| Died | December 1, 1950 (aged 32) Vicinity Hagaru-ri, Korea |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941 -1950 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held | 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Silver Star (2) Bronze Star (3) Purple Heart (2) Korean Service Medal United Nations Service Medal National Defense Service Medal Korean Presidential Unit Citation Korean War Service Medal World War II Victory Medal Combat Infantryman Badge |
Don Carlos Faith, Jr. (August 26, 1918 – December 1, 1950) was a officer in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions from November 27, through December 1, 1950. In 1976 LTC Faith was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia.
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[edit] Early life
Faith was born in Washington, Indiana on 26 August 1918. The son of a retired Army Brigadier General, Don Faith joined the Army after graduating from Georgetown University in 1941 after he was found medically unfit to attend the United States Military Academy. With an O.C.S. commission, he served with paratroopers in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany, ending the war as a Lieutenant Colonel on the Staff of General Maxwell Taylor.[1]
[edit] Military career
With America's entry into the Second World War approaching, Congress passed the Selective Service Act. Don Faith was called in for his draft physical, but was rejected for the same dental disqualification that thwarted his admission to the United States Military Academy. However Faith was able to appeal the draft board's decision, and he was inducted on June 25, 1941. After completion of Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned on February 26, 1942.
Lieutenant Faith was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and spent the remainder of the war with the division. He served as both an aide to Brig. Gen. Matthew Ridgway and as a staff officer in the division. In addition to participating in all of the division's combat jumps during the war, Faith was awarded two Bronze Stars and was promoted to Lt. Colonel.
After World War II, Faith served with the military mission in China until it was withdrawn. His next assignment was with the 7th Infantry Division in Japan as a battalion commander. When the war in Korea broke out during the summer of 1950, Faith and the 7th Infantry were sent to help stop the invasion of North Korea.
[edit] Awards and decorations
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[edit] Medal of Honor citation
- General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 59 (August 2, 1951)
- Action Date: November 27 - December 1, 1950
- Service: Army
- Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Company: Commanding Officer
- Battalion: 1st Battalion
- Regiment: 32d Infantry Regiment
- Division: 7th Infantry Division
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Don Carlos Faith, Jr. (ASN: 0-46673), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while Commanding the 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Hagaru-ri, (Chosin Reservoir) North Korea, from 27 November to 1 December 1950. When the enemy launched a fanatical attack against his battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Faith unhesitatingly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire as he moved about directing the action. When the enemy penetrated the positions, Lieutenant Colonel Faith personally led counterattacks to restore the position. During an attack by his battalion to effect a junction with another U.S. unit, Lieutenant Colonel Faith reconnoitered the route for, and personally directed, the first elements of his command across the ice-covered reservoir and then directed the movement of his vehicles which were loaded with wounded until all of his command had passed through the enemy fire. Having completed this he crossed the reservoir himself. Assuming command of the force his unit had joined he was given the mission of attacking to join friendly elements to the south. Lieutenant Colonel Faith, although physically exhausted in the bitter cold, organized and launched an attack which was soon stopped by enemy fire. He ran forward under enemy small-arms and automatic weapons fire, got his men on their feet and personally led the fire attack as it blasted its way through the enemy ring. As they came to a hairpin curve, enemy fire from a roadblock again pinned the column down. Lieutenant Colonel Faith organized a group of men and directed their attack on the enemy positions on the right flank. He then placed himself at the head of another group of men and in the face of direct enemy fire led an attack on the enemy roadblock, firing his pistol and throwing grenades. When he had reached a position approximately 30 yards from the roadblock he was mortally wounded, but continued to direct the attack until the roadblock was overrun. Throughout the five days of action Lieutenant Colonel Faith gave no thought to his safety and did not spare himself. His presence each time in the position of greatest danger was an inspiration to his men. Also, the damage he personally inflicted firing from his position at the head of his men was of material assistance on several occasions. Lieutenant Colonel Faith's outstanding gallantry and noble self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty reflect the highest honor on him and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
(This award supersedes the prior award of the Silver Star (First Oak Leaf Cluster) as announced in G.O. No. 32, Headquarters X Corps, dated 23 February 1951, for gallantry in action on 27 November 1950.)[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Don Faith, Jr. MOH
- ^ "Valor awards for Don Carlos Faith, Jr.". Hall of Valor. Military Times. http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=656. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
- ""DON C. FAITH" entry". Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/koreanwar.html. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
This article incorporates [edit] External links
- "Don C. Faith, Jr.". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6215388. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- "About our school: LTC Don C. Faith, Jr.". http://www.am.dodea.edu/benning/faith/Schoolinfo/About.html. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
