On the night of 19 December 1989, as a part of Operation JUST CAUSE (19-21 December 1989), Naval Special Warfare Task Unit PAPA -- a force consisting of three SEAL Platoons from SEAL Team FOUR, special purpose U.S. Army and Air Force Operations Aircraft and US Navy Patrol Boats -- were deployed on a mission to deny the use of Panama's Punta Paitilla Airfield to General Noriega and key Panamanian Defense Force (PDF) personnel. The SEAL element was assigned to disable General Noriega's personal jet aircraft and other selected aircraft, and to hold the airfield until relieved by conventional forces at H+5 hours. This mission was deemed crucial to the success of Operation JUST CAUSE because it blocked a principal means of escape for General Noriega and his associates.

Engineman Chief Petty Office Donald McFaul was serving as Platoon Chief Petty Officer of SEAL Team's FOUR's GOLF Platoon - one of the three SEAL platoons participating. As nightfall settled over Panama on 19 December, ENC McFaul and his platoon deployed from Howard AFB aboard MH-53J Pave Low III and MH-60G helicopters of the 20th SOS. The SEALs jumped into the water some four kilometers off the coast, and used motorized Zodiac combat rubber craft (CRRC) and began a clandestine transit to a loitering point 3000 yards off the southern approach to Paitilla Airfield.

At 2315 the SEAL elements began their infiltration to a beach at the southern end of the airfield. As the force clandestinely moved ashore, sounds of artillery fire began to fill the air from the battles unfolding in and around Panama City. Having established a secure perimeter at the south end of the airfield, additional SEALs arrived by helicopter using a Fast Rope deployment. Concern that the force would soon be compromised resulted in ENC McFaul's platoon being directed to move quickly to its objective.

As the Platoon patrolled up the airfield, an intelligence report was received indicating that General Noriega was possibly flying into Paitilla in four minutes aboard an unknown aircraft. The platoon continued with all possible speed to the PDF hangars on the northwestern side of the forty-three hundred foot runway to ensure that General Noriega would not be able to use his jet aircraft located inside the hangar. Initial results were highly successful and several light aircraft were used to block the runway, while General Noriega's biz-jet was disabled. At that point it was determined that General Noriega's Lear Jet -- the one which had been designated as the original target -- had been moved into one of the hangars.

As the first squad of GOLF Platoon closed to within fifty yards of the hangar housing General Noriega's aircraft, they were engaged in a fierce fire fight by well-positioned Panamanian Defense Forces hiding in and between the hangars. The Platoon's first squad sustained heavy casualties in the initial volley; eight of the nine men had been wounded. As the engagement continued, ENC McFaul and the second squad fought fiercely, attempting to suppress the enemy fire. ENC McFaul came to realize that the men from first squad were not responding to orders and were, in fact, all lying wounded in their exposed positions; most were barely able to operate their weapons. Since his was the closest element -- approximately 25 yards south of the first squad during the initial fire fight -- ENC McFaul immediately responded to help the numerous wounded. Realizing that the first squad was in extreme danger, he instructed his men to continue directing their suppressing fire at the PDF hangar while he and a corpsman moved forward to rescue his stricken Teammates. As he progressed toward the fallen first squad members, ENC McFaul encountered LTJG Casey dragging a wounded Teammate from the fire fight. In the absence of effective cover fire and with disregard for his personal safety, ENC McFaul entered the kill zone with the single focus of saving his Teammates' lives. Moving quickly, he located Petty Officer Moreno who had suffered a severe head wound, and courageously began to drag him from the deadly enemy fire. As he desperately pulled Petty Office Moreno to safety, ENC McFaul was savagely raked by enemy automatic weapons fire. In the brief moments before succumbing to his mortal wounds, ENC McFaul intentionally laid himself across his teammate, thereby protecting him from enemy fire.

Despite earlier intelligence reports, neither General Noriega nor any of his senior PDF associates appeared at the airfield. During the course of the engagement General Noriega's plane was completely disabled by gunfire from the SEAL elements. In the course of the night's action a total of four US Navy SEALs, including ENC McFaul, lost their lives, and nine others were severely wounded.

In that engagement ENC McFaul demonstrated the highest possible level of personal sacrifice and valor. His extraordinarily heroic actions, in total disregard for his personal safety, saved the life of Petty Office Moreno and inspired other heroic acts that unquestionably saved more lives. He set the highest possible standard for the leadership by example in combat. His selfless and extraordinary heroism were recognized by the posthumous award of the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart Medal.

On 25 April 1998 the USS McFAUL (DDG-74) was commissioned. An Arleigh-Burke class Destroyer, she is the 11th ship of that design to be built and she is named for ENC (SW/SEAL) Donald L. McFaul. The ship's motto derives directly from the example set by her namesake:

COURAGE, HONOR, SACRIFICE

Four Who Gave Their Lives In Panama

~~Let Us NEVER FORGET Their Sacrifice~~