Private Christian was a member of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was seriously Wounded in Action by the enemy in Korea on 4 October 1951, evacuated and died of those wounds on 9 October 1951 in Japan.

Christian was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.