David A. Christian
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David Christian | |
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File:David A Christian in dress uniform.jpg
Christian in his Army dress uniform
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Personal details | |
Born | Gainesville, Florida |
October 26, 1948
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania[1] |
Alma mater | Villanova Rutgers (J.D.) |
Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (2) with "V" Device Purple Heart (7) Air Medal (2) Army Commendation Medal |
Website | Campaign website |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 1965-1969 |
Rank | Captain |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
David A. Christian (born October 26, 1948)[1] is an American Vietnam War veteran who was decorated and wounded several times during the Vietnam War[2][3] and is best known for his veterans' advocacy efforts.
During the 2012 federal election, he was a candidate for the Republican nomination in the United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, challenging incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey, Jr.[4][5] Christian lost in the primary election to Tom Smith.[6]
Contents
Early life and education
Christian was born in Gainesville, Florida, on October 26, 1948. He was raised in Levittown, Pennsylvania. Christian's father left the family, causing his mother to raise Christian and his three siblings alone. Christian's mother, Dorothy Christian, was a U.S. Army aide to General Douglas MacArthur in World War II.[7]
Christian completed his high school education at Woodrow Wilson High School in 1966. He graduated on the Dean's List from Villanova University in 1972. He attended law school at Rutgers University, from 1972 to 76. Christian also attended graduate programs at Villanova, the University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, and Middlebury College.[1]
Military service
Christian enlisted in the United States Army at age 17. After being rapidly promoted through the enlisted ranks to Sergeant, he was admitted to Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) and commissioned at 18.[8] Following Officer Candidate School he completed U.S. Army Airborne School (Parachute Jump School) and U.S. Army Special Forces ("Green Berets") training.[8] He was promoted to Captain (O-3) after coming home from Vietnam at age 20.[8]
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism on October 29, 1968. Christian was critically burned by napalm during the Vietnam War in January 1969. He was treated in Vietnam hospitals until February 20, 1969. He was transferred to the 106 General Hospital (a division of Brooke Burn Center was established there) in Japan.[8] He was medically retired from the Army at age 21.[2]
Decorations and awards
Christian's military awards (service ribbons) include:
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Silver Star with oak leaf cluster
- Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster and "V" Device
- Purple Heart with six oak leaf clusters
- Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Army Commendation Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Vietnam Gallantry Cross with star and palm
- Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm and frame
- Vietnam Campaign Medal
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Parachutist Badge
Post-military career
Christian was elected National Commander of the Legion of Valor in 1978, and holds a lifetime Board of Directors position with the organization.[9] Membership in the Legion of Valor is restricted to those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross.
Frustrated with how Vietnam War veterans were treated upon their return to the United States, both by the general public and the government, Christian became an advocate and veterans leader.[10] He was a founding Vice-President of the Council of Vietnam Veterans.[3] He left the organization, founding the splinter group of the United Vietnam Veterans Organization (UVVO),[11] which merged with the VVA in 1986.
Christian served as Assistant State Director, US Department of Labor-Veterans Employment during the Reagan administration.[12] In July 1981, material pertaining to Agent Orange health issues was stolen from his office in what Christian characterized as a "Watergate type" burglary.[12]
Christian, a Republican, twice ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives against Peter H. Kostmayer, losing by less than 4,000 votes in 1984, and 15,000 in 1986.
Christian is a former Fox News military analyst,[13] having worked with them from 2002-2003.[14][15] Christian is also interviewed in the documentary Picking Up the Pieces (Making sense of the 60's V.5).[16] Christian also appeared in John Pilger's "Heroes" documentary.[17]
He collaborated with William Hoffer on the 1991 autobiographical Victor Six.[18]
Christian was also chairman of Sanswire Inc., now called World Surveillance Group, from May 3, 2009 through February 8, 2010, and CEO of the company from Aug. 2009 until Feb. 2010 when he “resigned” from both positions.[19] By the time he departed the company, its stock was trading at $0.04 a share from an earlier high of $3.68 a share. The company had also been delisted from the American Stock Exchange and certain members of its management were found guilty of accounting fraud. Today, the company trades at $0.0009 a share.
2012 U.S. Senate election
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In mid-2011, Christian formed an exploratory committee to consider a run for the United States Senate seat currently held by incumbent Democrat Bob Casey, Jr. in the 2012 election.[20]
Later in the year, Christian officially declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate for the seat being held by incumbent Bob Casey, Jr. In his campaign announcement, Christian described himself as a "Ronald Reagan Republican".[4][5] A poll conducted by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/WPXI-TV in early February 2012 showed Christian tied for last in the Republican field, with 1% of respondents.[21] A poll conducted in late February by PoliticsPA of the website's readership, however, placed Christian in second place, trailing only Sam Rohrer. Christian finished with 21% of respondents (364 votes) to Rohrer's 37% (651 votes).[22]
Christian was defeated in the April 24, 2012, primary by Tom Smith.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Unfinished War: Vietnam and the American Conscience Walter H. Capps. P. 4. 1990. Beacon Press
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Boomer Nation: The Largest and Richest Generation Ever, and How It Changed America, Steven M. Gillon (p 187) 2004 Simon & Schuster. Mentions awards specifically cited.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Local Soldier may tie Audie Murphy's record". Ron Avery. Bucks County Courier Times. August 22, 1969.
- ↑ Officers. Legion of Valor.
- ↑ Interview with David Christian, 1983 (Video Interview) WGBH Media Library & Archives.
- ↑ Kennedy, Morris. "Kostmayer, Christian find little upon which to agree." Montgomery County Bulletin (?). October 23, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 No author named. "Agent Orange Documents stolen." Pacific Stars and Stripes. July 9, 1981.
- ↑ Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism. Alexandra Kitty. (p 207) Disinformation Company. April 2005.
- ↑ Topics and Guests for Monday, Nov. 4, 2002. Fox News.
- ↑ Guests and Topics: March 12, 2003. Fox News.
- ↑ Documentary writeup
- ↑ John Pilger - Heroes (1 of 5) - Video on YouTube.
- ↑ Victor Six. David Christian & William Hoffer. 1990 Hb McGraw-Hill, 1991 Pb Pocket Books.
- ↑ http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/prominent-national-defense-advisor-captain-david-a-christian-elected-chairman-sanswire-1230158.htm, http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/08/11/idUS165648+11-Aug-2009+MW20090811, https://www.quandl.com/data/GOOG/PINK_WSGI-World-Surveillance-Group-Inc-WSGI?code=WSGI_P_S&name=World-Surveillance-Group-Inc-WSGI-Price-to-Sales-Ratio&source_code=DMDRN, http://www.lta-forum.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=848
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- David Christian 2012 Senate Campaign website
- David Christian website
- Our Final Debt To Dave Christian
- David Christian in Philadelphia Inquirer (First search result)
- Information regarding Christian's award of the Distinguished Service Cross (Scroll down)
- Legion of Valor Officers
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Library file on Veteran's Affairs on appointment of David Christian
- Pages with broken file links
- 1948 births
- Living people
- American military personnel of the Vietnam War
- United States Army officers
- Recipients of the Purple Heart medal
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)
- Recipients of the Air Medal