Evening star., 1951-06-17
Medal Of Honor
Continued From First Page.)

Medal OF Honor
Continued From First Page.)
of Washington, Ind, attended
Georgetown University here from
1888 to 1941.
The series of heroic actions
which won the Medal Of Honor for
Col. Faith are described by his
successor as battalion commander,
Maj. Robert E. Jones.
1.-THE First Battalion, 32nd In.
fantry, under the command Of
Col. Don c. Faith, jr.,
was located on the east coast of
the Chosin Reservoir on November
27, 1850. The position was attacked
by a numerically superior force
for two nights, and Col. Faith per-
sonally directed the defense of
the battalion, time and again ex-
posing himself to small arms, auto
matte weapons. and mortar fire to
check the battalion perimeter. and
to direct counterattack forces
against penetrations of our lines.
"On the morning of November
20, Col. Faith, realizing the hope
lessness of trying to maintain the
position due to the shortage Of
ammunition, and the fact that
there were over 100 casualties in
the aid station that could not be
evacuated. decided to withdraw
the battalion and join the Third
Battalion of the 31st Infantry and
the 57th Field Artillery Battalion
at their position. This withdrawal
was successfully made and con-
tact with the enemy broken.
Colonel Faith went forward
with a. small party to inspect a
bridge which the battalion would
have to cross in order to join
friendly forces. This bridge was
under heavy enemy small arms
and mortar fire. He exposed him
self to this fire until he had made
a thorough reconnaissance to
evolve a plan for clearing the
enemy out of the strip along the
ice. and getting the truck column
with the wounded across the
bridge to join friendly forces.
Constantly Under Fire.
He personally took the first
elements of foot troops to come
down the road, organized them,
and directed them across the ice
in an attack on the enemy forces.
When this had been accomplished
he then personally directed each
truck across the small bridge to
friendly territory, constantly being
under heavy small arms and auto
matte fire. Having completed this,
and successfully getting every
wounded man into friendly hands,
he then crossed the ice himself.
After reaching the position, he
Immediately saw the need for or
ganizing the elements of the First
and Third Battalions of the 31st
Infantry, the 57th Field Artillery
Battalion, and the 18th Antiair-
craft Battalion into a task force,
and organizing the ground for de-
fenSe.
"The task force was organized,
and the perimeter was successfully
defended until 1880 pm. on
December l. During this period
the perimeter was penetrated five
different times. Col. Faith person
ally organized and dispatched the
counterattack forces to repel these
penetrations, even though the area
was continuously swept by heavy
fire.
Knowing that ammunition was
very low and that help could not
reach his forces, Col. Faith decided
to break out of the perimeter and
attempt to reach Hagaru-ri, to
join the First Marine Division. He
issued orders to leave behind all
excess vehicles and equipment, and
that only the wounded would be
carried out on trucks.
The breakout began at 1::30
pm. and proceeded only 20 yards
when the enemy opened up with
whitening fire from all sides. The
troops in the lead hesitated and hit
the ground. Col. Faith Immediately
jumped up and ran to the forward
elements, getting the men on their
feet and into assault fire, and led
them forward, literally blasting
their way through the wall Of
lenemy that were ringing the peri
meter. By killing, wounding, and
running the enemy away from the
area on each side of the road
leading to the southwest, the
column was able to proceed. Only
the quick and heroic action of
Col. Faith in personally rallying
the forward elements of the
column and leading them forward,