Michael D. Christian

By zthanson, 17 November, 2022
First Name
Michael
Middle Name
D.
Last Name
Christian
Birthdate
Hometown
Huntsville, Alabama
Rank
Commander
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in a decorated U.S. Navy suit and cap.
PreCapture Description

Mike Christian enlisted in the U.S. Navy on January 28, 1958, and was trained as an aviation electronics technician. He completed Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1964. He served as an Electronics Maintenance Officer aboard the destroyer USS Dahlgren (DLG-12, and then entered Naval Flight Officer School at NAS Pensacola, Florida. Lieutenant Christian was designated a Naval Flight Officer in June 1966 and then completed Navigator-Bombardier training in the A-6 Intruder with VA-123 at Whidbey Island, Washington, and VA-42 at NAS Oceana, Virginia. He joined VA-85 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) in February 1967 and began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia in March 1967. Lieutenant Christian was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on April 24, 1967.

Post Release Image
Man in uniform giving a speech in front of an American flag.
Post Release Description

Lt. Cmdr. Mike Christian was released during  “Operation Homecoming” on March 4, 1973. He then joined VA-42 at NAS Oceana, where he served from October 1973 to June 1974. Lieutenant Commander Christian then attended Old Dominion University for his post-graduate studies, followed by Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia. He then served as a Maintenance Officer at NAS Oceana from January to October 1977 and then at the Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility Virginia Capes from October 1977 until his retirement from the Navy on February 1, 1978. Tragically, Mike Christian was killed in a house fire on September 4, 1983, and was buried at Huntsville Memory Gardens in Huntsville, Alabama. He and his wife Charlotte had three daughters together-Deborah Kaye, Sandra Dawn, and Pamela Joan.

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Silver Star (2)
  • Bronze Star (3)
  • Air Medal (4)
  • Navy Commendation Medal
  • Purple Heart
  • Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release