Education
Attended high school in Bend, Oregon, graduating in 1975 with a 3.47 Grade Point Average ranking 64 of 399 in his class.
Attended high school in Bend, Oregon, graduating in 1975 with a 3.47 Grade Point Average ranking 64 of 399 in his class.
Only two es were awarded for the 1989 operations in Panama. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer United States Ship McFaul (DDG-74) was named to honor him. He enlisted in the United States Navy on June 26, 1975 and was initially assigned to Naval Station Treasure Island working for port services as an engine specialist.
McFaul volunteered for Special Warfare and was accepted in 1977.
In spring of 1978 he attended Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea, Air, Land training (BUD/South). He was then assigned to Sea, Air, Land Team One following his graduation from BUD/South and did three tours of duty conducting special operations from United States. Naval Base Subic Bay.
He left the navy from 1985 to 1988 living and working in the Seattle and Kodiak, Alaska areas. He returned to the Navy in 1988, attending a Spanish language course at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California.
In December 1989 he deployed to Panama as part of Sea, Air, Land Team 4.
He was killed during the capture of Paitilla Airfield, Panama City, Panama in the early morning hours of December 20, 1989. He then carried another team member to safety, but was mortally wounded in the process. His actions saved that team member and were said to inspire other heroic acts that led to the capture of the objective.