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View Full Version : Remains of Lt. Col. Faith of 31st TCT Returned to US



MAG266165
04-11-13, 11:37 AM
The remains of Lt. Col. Don C. Faith, the last commander of the Army's 31st Regimental Combat Team were located by a joint North Korean and US MIA team, probably in Hudong-ni, North Korea. He was posthumously awarded the CMH after his remains were left behind by retreating troops along with those of over three hundred soldiers in trucks when their convoy was annihilated by CCF after attempting to retreat from the east side of the Chosin on about 3 December 1950.

On 27 November 1950, the army's 31st RCT minus its armor and much of its infantry was caught scattered in badly exposed positions along the east side of the Chosin reservoir by overwhelmingly superior numbers of Chinese Communist forces. The CCF managed to throw up a series of roadblocks along its MSR, effectively cutting off its retreat to the Marine perimeter at Hagaru-ri, on the west side of the reservoir. Marine Corps Corsairs provided effective fire against enemy forces during the retreat, but they were restricted to operating during daylight hours. Many army survivors were able to escape across the ice of the Chosin with the help of Marine personnel.

Rocky C
04-11-13, 01:54 PM
RIP Lt. Col.

63 years...Welcome home Sir. Thank You for Your Service and Sacrifice.
Prayers Outbound...

MAG266165
04-11-13, 02:33 PM
I still know one of the Marine aviators who flew out of Yonpo dropping napalm and shooting up the Chinese to protect Task Force Faith. Sometimes the enemy was pressing them so closely that the Marines released the canisters when they were well over the army column with less than the intended accuracy.

ese4mc
04-13-13, 07:37 AM
The story of this unit should be read by all----attached to the 1st mardiv by 10th corps CG,they were ill equiped to support the div---the original CO (col. Smith) was told to report to Geen. O.P. Smith---he asked for some winter clothing for his men,but,Smith only had enough for his own men---he told the army to stay close,but ,there orders were to head north to the reservoir---approx 3000+/- men--got hit by 2 chinese div.are basically were battered to pieces---very sad story,however they kept the 1 mardiv from being hit by the additional chinese troops--the withdrawl of the division could have been a disaster except for these brave men---the marine pilot assigned to them for air support choose to be with them as chosin survivors--whemn O.P.Smith was asked to approve a PUC for them he refused,unaware of there sacrifices----Gen Ray Davis & others told the story of there stand to Gen. Smith & he rapidly approved the PUC--there story has been told at a web site koreanwar_educater--the partial story has been on the History/military channel--

ese4mc
04-13-13, 08:04 AM
google.com---koreanwar_educater.orf

ese4mc
04-13-13, 08:30 AM
better site----google.com---put in 31 rct-look for battlee of the chosin---it is the complete story with pictures