John E Christiansen Jr

John Edward Christiansen Jr. was raised in Durant and graduated from the local high school. He joined the Navy on April 30, 1964. Christiansen trained to be a medic and achieved the rank of Hospital Corpsman 3rd class (HM3). He deployed to Vietnam and was attached to the 3rd Marine Division as a unit medic in the vicinity of Danang. On July 26, 1966 HM3 Christiansen was killed while on a mine sweeping operation from wounds inflicted by an enemy explosive device. The 20-year-old’s body was returned to Iowa and buried at Durant Cemetery.