Bernhard M. Christiansen was born on August 27, 1949. His home of record is Willingboro, NJ. He was the oldest of seven children – six boys and one girl (Stephen, Andrew, George, Peter, Paul and Mary). Bernhard was an honor graduate of Holy Cross High School in Delran, NJ.
Bernhard enlisted in the US Marine Corps in July 1967. He attained the rank of Lance Corporal (LCPL).
Bernhard was sent to Vietnam on March 23, 1968, after receiving paratrooper training. He served with the 1st Combined Action Group. He was nicknamed “Recon.”
On February 5, 1969, Christiansen was wounded in the left leg and thigh while on a seven-man patrol near Chu Lai in Vietnam. He was severely wounded again on February 23, when the hospital at Chu Lai was mortared. On March 6, Christiansen’s left leg was amputated, he did not survive the surgery.
Christiansen died on April 12, 1969. He is buried in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, NJ.
Sources: Newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
