DONALD L. MCFAUL
December 20, 1989
Name:
ENC (SEAL) Donald L. McFaul
Hometown:
Bend, Oregon
DOB:
September 20, 1957
DOP:
December 20, 1989
Entered Service:
June 26, 1975
Deployments:
Chief McFaul was assigned to SEAL Team ONE where he made three deployments in support of Special Operations out of Subic Bay, Philippines. While at SEAL Team FOUR Chief McFaul deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of the Middle East Forces and later deployed to Naval Special Warfare Unit EIGHT at Naval Station Rodman, Republic of Panama. His final deployment was as Platoon Chief of Gulf Platoon during Operation Just Cause at Battle of Paitilla Airport.
Units:
Naval Station Treasure Island; SEAL Team 1, NSWU1, SEAL Team 4.
Education:
Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S); Defense Language Institute for Spanish.
Awards & Decorations:
Navy Cross (awarded posthumously), Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/gold star, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon w/bronze star, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon w/bronze star, Good Conduct Medal w/bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Deployment Ribbon, Expert Rifle Medal, Expert Pistol Medal.
Survived By:
Chief Donald McFaul is survived by his wife, Patricia; his daughter, Megan; mother, Shirley Lee, of Washington; brothers, Michael McFaul, J.R. Schooley, Duane Schooley, Jr.; and sisters, Debbie Baker, Candy Nelson and Karie Tarte.
Honoree Bio:
Chief Petty Officer Donald L. McFaul was born 20 September 1957 in Orange County, California. He graduated from Bend Senior High School in Bend, Oregon in 1974 and enlisted in the Navy upon graduation. He was assigned to Naval Station Treasure Island, where he worked as an Engine Specialist. In 1977, Chief McFaul was selected to join the Naval Special Warfare Community.
He underwent Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal Training (Class 95) in the spring of 1978. Chief McFaul was assigned to SEAL Team ONE where he made three deployments in support of Special Operations out of Subic Bay, Philippines. In 1985, Donald McFaul the SEAL became Donald McFaul the civilian, but missing the challenge and excitement of the SEAL Team, Donald McFaul returned to the Special Warfare Community. He attended Defense Language Institute for Spanish in Monterey, California, and in 1988 Chief McFaul was assigned to SEAL team FOUR.
While at SEAL Team FOUR Chief McFaul deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of the Middle East Forces and later deployed to Naval Special Warfare Unit EIGHT at Naval Station Rodman, Republic of Panama. His final deployment was as Platoon Chief of Gulf Platoon. On December 20, 1989, during Operation JUST CAUSE at Paitilla Airfield in Panama, Chief McFaul’s platoon was patrolling toward their objective when they were engaged by heavy small arms fire. Realizing that most of the first squad ahead of him had been wounded, he left the relative safety of his position to assist the wounded lying helplessly exposed. He began carrying a wounded member to safety and was nearing his own force’s perimeter when he was mortally wounded. His ultimate sacrifice inspired other heroic acts and mission accomplishment.
