David A. Christian

For the historian, see David Christian (historian).

Template:Linkless-date David Christian (born 1948) was the most decorated and youngest American officer in the Vietnam War. Christian lead a reconnaissance platoon that gained the nickname "Christian's Butchers" for their success. Christians special forces, recon and LLRP's developed their success by becoming the guerrilla warrior., Christian's recon team was able to effectively fight the enemy. Christian's service in Vietnam ended when he was severely burned by napalm; thirty-three surgeries were required to repair the damage. An army review board ruled that he should be retired. Both the Veteran's Administration , Social Security Administration, the Dept. of Defense rated him 100 percent disabled. Historically, David A. Christian was the U.S. Army's youngest most decorated commissioned teenage officer in the Vietnam War attaining the rank of Captain at the age of twenty. He then retired due to his disability wounds at twenty-one years of age. In the next seven years of his life he was to see over 33 major operations for the wounds he received in Vietnam.

After returning home, Christian was mocked by antiwar demonstrators when he enrolled in Villanova University. He was later accepted into Rutgers Law School.

Christian gave the final speech dedicating the Vietnam Memorial.

• David A. Christian
  David A. Christian

Awards

• Seven Purple Hearts
• Distinguished Service Cross
• Two Silver Stars
• Bronze Star
• Twice nominated for the Medal of Honor
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Air Medal (for 25 combat assaults from a helicopter)
• Two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry (Vietnam's second highest military honor)
• Numerous other awards for valor and honor as a teenage commisioned officer

Links

• David Christian Website

Media and Testimonials-

• Our Final Debt To Dave Christian
• David Christian in "Steppin' Out" Magazine
• David Christian in Philadelphia Inquirer (First search result)
• Victor Six Dave's Autobiography (Click blue arrow)
• (Other media interviews and articles.)
• (Other testimonials)

Politics-

• Dave in the U.S.A.
• Dave in Southeast Asia
• Dave in Russia

DAC Consulting Firm-

• (Consulting Firm Page)
• Other information

Other-

• Information regarding Christians award of the Distinguished Service Cross (Scroll down)

Quotes on Christian

• He can truly be regarded as the Sylvester Stallone of the Vietnam War. --Photographer Philip Jones Griffiths, from Vietnam at Peace

• David Christian embodies the spirit of the American fighting man on the battlefield. --Sen. John Kerry (|D–Mass.)

• David Christian saved my life and has in many ways acted as a father to me. I can't respect him enough for his bravery, kindness, wit and larger than life aura. I consider myself extreamly lucky to be his friend. --Artist Paul Gray