John Christiansen Jr. 1945-1966

CHRISTIANSEN, SMITH, GURNEY, DECKER, MCMILLAN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 4/8/2021 at 06:43:06

4 August 1966 - The Tipton Conservative

Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Christiansen of Durant received word Wednesday night that their son, Hospital Corpsman Third Class John Christiansen Jr., 20, was killed by a land mine in Viet Nam on July 26. He had been stationed there for several months.

This is the second Cedar county man to die in action in combat in Viet Nam. Dennis Weber of Mechanicsville was killed there on Dec. 9, 1965.

Corpsman Christiansen had been attached to the Marines as a member of the Third Engineering Battalion, H and S Company.

His Marine unit had been in action in the Da Nang area, according to information received from Navy sources.

In recent weeks, his unit had been going out frequently on night and day patrol and were also using ambush tactics in stopping the Viet
Cong.

Corpsman Christiansen entered the Navy April 30, 1964, following his graduation from Durant high school. He was born Aug. 6, 1945, in Davenport.

Surviving besides the parents, are 4 sisters, Mrs. J. C. Smith, Philadelphia, Pa.; Mrs. J. C. Gurney, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. W. E. Decker, Fort Dodge and Mrs. J. T. McMillan, Dubuque and a brother, Thomas, at home.