Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian

U. S. Army Brigadier General Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian Grandson of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org Graduate United States Military Academy Class of 1911

Jack Christian was born in California on August 29, 1888 but spent his youth in Richmond. Virginia. A grandson of Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson he followed the foot steps of his famous ancester and entered the Military Academy in June of 1907 He was graduated with the Class of 1911.

On graduation he was assigned to the 7th Cavalry where he served a three-year tour in the Philippines. After which which he served on the Mexican border until detailed as PMS&T at the Colorado State Agricultural College in January of 1917.

While assigned to the Philippines, he returned to the States on leave to marry Bertha Cook in San Kafael California on January 8 1914. A son, Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian Jr. and a daughter were born of that marriage. Thomas graduated in the Class of 1939 at West Point, entered the Air Force and was killed in his P-51 in the vicinity of Arras, France, August 12, 1944.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, Jack transferred to the Field Artillery, hoping for service overseas. But while he held various commands in that arm, he did not get that overseas assignment. During the interwar period Thomas Christian served two tours as PMS&T and attended the Field Artillery School, the Command and General Staff School and the Army War College. During this time, he also served a tour in the Office of the Chief of Field Artillery.

At the beginning of World War II, Jack was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and assigned to command the Field Artillery Training Center at Camp Roberts, California, and later to command the 73d Field Artillery Brigade at Camp Sutton, North Carolina. In July of 1942 he was assigned to duty with the Air Force, with which he served until the end of the war. From October of 1946 until his retirement in August 1948 Jack was a member of the Officers Interview Board at Bolling Field, and of the Army Personnel Records Board in the Pentagon. He was married a second time to Elenora DeJarnette Faison on February 26. 1948 in Washington, D. C. The Christians had three children, twins William Edmund and Virginia Stuart and the youngest son, Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian II born August 11, 1952. He was also named after his father, but was called the second to distinguish him from his half-brother who was killed in France.

After his retirement he settled to Jacksonville Florida, where he passed away on September 15, 1952. Jack was the recipient of numerous commendations. He was a gallant gentleman in every sense of the word, always cheerful, and invariably kind, thoughtful and considerate of others. We who were privileged to know Jack Christian loved him.