From Huntsville-Madison County Public Library

 Lt. Commander, Vietnam POW

Born:

October 17, 1940, New York

Died:

September 4, 1983, Virginia Beach, VA

Buried:

Huntsville Memory Gardens, Huntsville, AL

Notes:

•  "Lt. Commander Michael Christian of Huntsville, Alabama, was a POW in the Vietnam War. Michael's plane was shot down on April 24, 1967 over the Ha Bac province in North Vietnam. He spent the next 6 years in a prison dubbed the 'Hanoi Hilton' where he endured frequent interrogations and beatings. He was released in March 1973. Christian was awarded two silver stars, two bronze stars, the legion of merit, and two purple hearts. On April 7, 1973, he was honored with a parade on 'Mike Christian Day.' Christian was a graduate of Butler High School. He died in an apartment fire, September 1983, in Virginia Beach, VA." - Huntsville Madison County Public Library

•  Bombardier / Navigator, Grumman A6 Intruder, Attack Squadron 85, USS Kitty Hawk, US Navy - POW network

•  Date of Loss: April 24, 1967 - POW network


Related Links:

•  Decatur Daily - Article by Amanda Irle (Originally found at http://www.decaturdaily.com/stories/Freedom-Award-honoree-Michael-Christian-remembered-as-a-hero,37979.)

•  Find a grave - Photo and Bio by Charles W. Sanders, March 14, 2008

•  Huntsville Madison County Public Library - Photo and caption (Originally found at http://digitalarchives.hmcpl.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15431coll1&CISOPTR=184&CISOBOX=1&REC=1.)

•  POW network - Synopsis of the event leading to his capture and imprisonment. Compiled by Homecoming II Project.

•  You Tube - John McCain tells a story with Mike as the central figure. John says he was from Selma, AL (not Huntsville, as all other accounts report) but in many ways the story resembles the account others have given about Mike improvising an American Flag out of available materials so that the POWs could recite daily the Pledge of Allegiance. Uploaded by JohnMcCaindotcom, Jan 4, 2008.