Corporal Fava was a member of Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. He was Killed in Action while attacking the entrenched enemy at O-Bong-ni Ridge, Naktong River Bulge, South Korea, on 18 August 1950.

Fava was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.