Richard Allen Christie – Colonel, United States Marine Corps

Biography of Colonel Richard A Christie, United States Marine Corps

Colonel Richard Allen Christie was born 26 June 1956 in Camden, New Jersey. A native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, he graduated from Trenton State College (New Jersey) in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Law.

Entering the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Class Program, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the USMCR in June 1978, and received a regular commission in March 1981. Following graduation from the Marine Corps Basic School in March 1979, Colonel Christie completed the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill and moved to his operational assignment as Forward Observer and Artillery Liaison Officer , Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines. In September 1980, he was assigned to The Basic School as a Staff Officer, Weapons Instructor, and Staff Platoon Commander until his return to Fort Sill to attend the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course In January 1984.

He continued west to Camp Pendleton where he was the Fire Support Coordinator for the 27th and 7th Marine Regiments, followed by consecutive commands of Battery H, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines and Headquarters Battery and Target Acquisition Battery, 11th Marines. He next spent two years in command of the Marine Detachment, USS Ranger (CV-61) home-ported in San Diego, California.

Colonel Christie moved on to Headquarters, Marine Corps where he served in the Personnel Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs – first as Communications Monitor and Special Assignments Control Officer in the Enlisted Assignments Branch, and later as the General Officer Matters Officer.

Following his Headquarters tour, he attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College, graduating in June 1992, and then returned to the Fleet Marine Force at Camp Lejeune where he was the Operations Officer and Executive Officer of 1st Battalion, 10th Marines until July 1995. He then returned to Washington, assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., as the Deputy Director of the Marine Corps Institute (MCI) and Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps Institute Company. Following his tour at MCI, he commanded 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, Second Division from June 1997 to June 1999.

After completing graduate studies in National Security Strategy at The National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., Colonel Christie became the Land Forces Planner for the U.S. Military Delegation to NATO in Brussels, Belgium. His final assignment was as Chief of Staff for the same organization.

Colonel Christie was a Distinguished Graduate of Naval War College (Command and Staff), Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and The National War College, and is a member in the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. His personal decorations included the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Gold Stars) and the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Colonel Christie is survived by his wife, Barbara Anderson Christie, two sons – Erik Anderson and Mark Anderson, his mother – Elizabeth A. Christie, a sister – Jo Ann Winterberg, a brother – Ralph W. Christie, III and two nieces – Jillann Morley and Jenny France, and two nephews – Jon Christie and Jeff Winterberg.

Colonel Christie suffered from a rare type of cancer – Adrenal cortical cancer – only about 200 people a year get this type in the US. He apparently had it for 3-4 years before it was diagnosed and by then it was already in stage IV. He fought a long hard battle, with many surgeries, radiation and some chemo, for almost a year.

Colonel Richard Allen Christie, was buried at Arlington on March 13, 2003 in Section 36, Grave 22-1. He was buried with full Military Honors.

CHRISTIE, RICHARD A
COL   US MARINE CORPS
VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 01/01/1982 – 01/24/2003
DATE OF BIRTH: 06/26/1956
DATE OF DEATH: 02/21/2003
DATE OF INTERMENT: 03/13/2003
BURIED AT: SECTION 36  SITE 2201
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard