Don Carlos Faith, Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Korean War

Early Life

Don Carlos Faith, Jr. was born in Washington, IN, on 26 August 1918. He was the son of Don Carlos and Katherine "Reinsel" Faith. He was an Army brat who travelled for his father's career around the United States and around the world. (His father retired as a Brigadier General.) Faith completed high school in Kentucky and enrolled at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, after he was found medically unfit to attend the United States Military Academy.

Military Career

With America's entry into World War II 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 West Point. However, Faith was able to appeal the draft board's decision, and he was inducted on 25 June 1941. After completion of Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry on 26 February 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 Ridgeway 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After World War II, Faith served with the military mission in China until it was withdrawn.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.

Medal of Honor

Lieutenant Colonel Don Carlos Faith, Jr. was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during 27 November to 1 December 1950.

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division

Place and date: Vicinity Hagaru-ri, Northern Korea, 27 November to 1 December 1950

G.O. No.: 59, 2 August 1951

Citation:

Lt. Col. Faith, commanding 1st Battalion, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the area of the Chosin Reservoir. When the enemy launched a fanatical attack against his battalion, Lt. Col. Faith unhesitatingly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire as he moved about directing the action. When the enemy penetrated the positions, Lt. Col. Faith personally led counterattacks to restore the position. During an attack by his battalion to effect a junction with another U.S. unit, Lt. Col. 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. Lt. Col. 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. Lt. Col. 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 5 days of action Lt. Col. 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. Lt. Col. 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.)

Other Medals and Awards

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Don Carlos Faith, Jr. was awarded the following:

Silver Star Medal (2 Awards)
Bronze Star Medal with (3 Awards)
Purple Heart (2 Awards)
Combat Infantryman's Badge
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Other Honors

In 1976, Lieutenant Colonel Don Carlos Faith, Jr. was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA.

Death and Burial

As Lieutenant Colonel Faith led his men across the reservoir, he was mortally wounded in an explosion and his body was never recovered. His official date of death is 2 December 1950. A cenotaph is located next to the graves of his father and mother, (Brigadier General) Don Carlos and Katherine "Reinsel" Faith, in Section 4, Lot 3016 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

Burial Update

More than 62 years after his death, Lieutenant Colonel Faith's remains were located and returned to his only daughter, Barbara “Bobbie” Faith Broyles, for burial. His burial, with full military honors, will take place at Arlington National Cemetery on 17 April 2013.

“I’m incredulous,” Broyles, a 66-year-old psychotherapist, said when reached at her home in Baton Rouge, LA. She praised Department of Defense scientists and researchers for their relentless work. “He’s been missing for 62 years and it’s a wonderful, wonderful thing that he’s been found. What’s so amazing is that our country doesn’t give up, they keep looking for the missing and the prisoners of war and people who are unaccounted for in battles.”