CHRISTENSEN, JACK R.
Lieutenant Colonel Jack Robert Christensen, United States Marine Corps (Retired), died peacefully in the arms of his loving wife, Gloria, and entered into eternal life July 13, 2016.
Jack was born November 20, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois to George and Gladys Christensen. He was predeceased by his brother, George William Christensen Jr., 1923-2012. Jack graduated from St. Philomena Elementary School in Chicago on June 6, 1937.
Always an outdoorsman, Jack loved adventure and enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, competition shooting, fencing and sports of all sorts. However, his passion has always been the military.
Jack graduated from Foreman High School in Chicago on June 27, 1941. He participated in the school ROTC program from September 7, 1938 until June 25, 1941. He qualified as a sharpshooter, was on the rifle team and quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant. Jack participated in the Citizens’ Military Training Camp program at Camp Custer, Michigan throughout each summer through 1940. Upon high school graduation, Jack was qualified to perform the duties of a sergeant in the Organized Reserves. However, Jack had other plans. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on June 26, 1941 (the day before graduating from high school), boarded a train and headed for Recruit Depot, Marine Corps Base, Naval Operating Base, San Diego, California. So began Jack’s twenty-eight year career in the Marines and a lifelong bond to the Marine Corps.
Jack was named the outstanding member of his platoon upon completion of boot camp, July, 1941. By September 1941, Jack was a drill instructor and a corporal. Seventeen days after his nineteenth birthday, WWII began in America. Jack volunteered, gained an interview and was accepted as a Marine Corps Raider, the elite commando fighting force of the corps assigned to the most dangerous missions in the South Pacific. He was in both Carlson’s 2nd Raider Battalion, A and E Companies, and later in Edson’s 1st Raider Battalion, D and A Companies. Jack went up the enlisted ranks as he served at Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands), Espiritu Santo (New Hebrides), Guam (Mariana Islands), Emirau (St. Matthias Group), Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands) and others. Gunnery Sergeant Jack Christensen was a member of Tokyo Bay Occupation Force in the initial landing and occupation of the Tokyo Bay area and the capture of the Japanese ship, HIJMS Nagato. At the end of WWII Jack was part of the occupation forces in Japan. That is when his passion for antiquities began and he started collecting Japanese idols. In fact, on June 28, 1965 the Torii Teller Iwakuni weekly magazine Volume 10, No. 38 ran a story with pictures about Jack and his idol collection.
When the Korean War began, Jack was a master sergeant. On November 2, 1951 Jack was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”. On January 31, 1952, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. On August 3, 1953, he was promoted to first lieutenant. Jack’s Marine Corps career continued during the Korean War. He was promoted to captain on December 31, 1953. At some point prior to December 31, 1953, Jack served as a personal bodyguard to General Lemuel Shepherd, Twentieth Commandant of the Marine Corps. When not in Korea, Jack was stationed at El Toro Marine Base.
Jack’s Marine Corps career continued and he was promoted to major on July 1, 1962. During the Vietnam War, Jack was promoted to lieutenant colonel on October 1, 1967. Lieutenant Colonel Jack Christensen, an ordnance ground officer, was the command officer of the 3rd Marine Air Wing Squadron at El Toro Air Base, El Toro, California, until January 1968. He then reported to the Commander of Air Bases Western Area (COMCAB-WEST) for duty in Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam in the spring of 1970, Jack retired on April 1, 1970.
Many letters from Jack’s superiors in his military files are testimony to his dedication to the Marine Corps and his service to his country, as well as hi loyal devotion to duty. Jack was awarded many medals and ribbons, both as an enlisted Marine and as a Marine Corps officer:
Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with 3 Stars, Army Presidential Unit Commendation Ribbon with 3 Stars, Navy Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon with 1 Star, Good Conduct Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, China Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Theater Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army Navy Occupation Service Medal (Second Award), Korean Service Medal with 4 Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Forces Medal, Korean Presidential Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross with Palm and Frame) Ribbon Bar, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Action Colour with Palm and Frame) Ribbon Bar, Solomon Islands Medal, Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal
After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1970, Jack followed another pursuit, his passion for collecting, restoring and selling antiques, especially but not limited to furniture in his stores and warehouses in Arizona, California and England. In 2008, Jack and Gloria retired from the antique business. However, they continued antiquing and traveling the world while focusing on family, military activities and the Veterans Ministry at their Church.
Jack is survived by his wife Gloria, daughter Melody and son John. Jack was predeceased by his son Troy, 1962-2001. Jack has seven stepchildren, twenty grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Jack is admired and loved by many for being so strong, brave, determined, compassionate, loving and loyal. We will miss his stories, laughter and his smile.