We’ve all heard John McCain talk about Mike Christian who was held as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton with John McCain and others. Here is some biographical information about him, a transcript of his story, some photos and a video.
John McCain has often told the story of one of his fellow prisoners during the years he spent in the Hanoi Hilton. Mike Christian was a Vietnam War POW with John McCain and the two shared quarters for some time. The story is about Christian’s love of country and of his fellow prisoners of war. He had sewn a flag into the inside of his clothing and the POWs pledged allegiance to the homemade flag every morning. Eventually the Vietcong discovered the flag, they destroyed it and beat Christian. Following the horrific beating, Christian was returned to the cell. After some nursing aid from McCain and other prisoners, Christian sat up and started fashioning another flag into his clothing.
I won’t repeat the entire story here. You can read it and listen to McCain tell the story below.
Listening to John McCain tell the story has gotten a lot of people curious to learn more about Mike Christian, including me. I found a statement from him that I found particularly poignant in today’s environment.
My pilot was Lt. Lewis Irving (Irv) Williams. We were shot down 24 April 1967 at Kep Airfield about 30 miles northeast of Hanoi.
I frequently found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time. I got to know the Vietnamese and their methods quite well during five major and various minor pain sessions. Their attempts at propaganda and indoctrination taught me, as it did so many, just how strongly I support the ideals and policies of my country and our system of government. I learned a great deal about myself and my fellow man. I saw Americans function under conditions of great stress and report with pride their tremendous courage and resourcefulness . Perhaps the two strongest lessons I learned are: One, look around and find those who love you. Be aware of their love and react to it while you still can. Two, the International Communist Revolution is a deadly serious business and we MUST become aware of it. We need not panic, but we absolutely must deal with communism from a position of strength. Peace at any price politics will destroy us.
Mike Christian Biography
Michael Durhen Christian was born on October 7, 1940 and died in September 1983. He was 43-years-old. He was from Huntsville, Alabama. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Christian of Huntsville. He had a sister, Pat and a brother Larry.
He attended Butler High School in Huntsville. He went to the University of Alabama and then transfered to Purdue University and got his degree in 1964. He enlisted in the Navy on January 28, 1958 and entered the Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP) which is a commission program. He spent a year and a half in the surface Navy in the USS Dahlgren DLG-12, received B/N Wings in 1966, A-6A B/N in VA-85 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63).
He was a A6A pilot and a member of Attack Squadron 85, USS Kitty Hawk and his rank was 02/US Navy. Lieutenant Commander Christian was shot down over North Vietnam on April 24, 1967 and became a prisoner of war. He was moved around to different locations in North Vietnam until he was placed in the Hanoi Hilton for the duration of his imprisonment. He was released on March 4, 1973 after 6 years of imprisonment. He was one of 591 Americans released from Vietnamese prisoner of war camps in 1973.
He had been awarded two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, four Air Medals, the Legion of Merit, and the Navy Commendation Medal.
Christian was married to Charlotte Strong Christian of Virginia Beach, Virginia. They had three children, Deborah Kaye, Sandra Dawn and Pamela Joan. Christian died in a fire at his home in Virginia Beach. He attempted to get out of the house, but bars on the windows prevented him for being able to escape the fire.
You can read more about Lieutenant Commander Christian’s imprisonment here.




