35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  SSG Albert Krisunas Christy    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



Bravo Company
1st Battalion
35th Infantry Regiment
Vietnam War

"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"
National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal


The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SSG Albert Krisunas Christy, who died in the service of his country on March 17th, 1966 in Pleiku Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Albert was 27 years of age. He was from Mercer, Pennsylvania. Albert is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 06E, Line 17.

The decorations earned by SSG Albert Krisunas Christy include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

Albert is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Francisco, CA.

Taken from March 23, 1966 issue of the local Mercer newspaper.

A 27 year old career soldier from the Mercer area who volunteered for duty in Viet Nam less than two months ago has been killed in action.
Staff Sgt. Albert K. Christy, son of Ambrose Christy, Mercer RD 4, was shot in the back by hostile small arms fire while on a combat mission with the 25th Infantry Division in South Viet Nam last Thursday. The Department of Defense has notified the family. He is the second serviceman from Mercer County to be killed in Vietnam.

He left the United States last Feb. 4 with Pleiku, South Viet Nam as his original destination. Sgt. Christy had been stationed in Ft. Ord, Calif. From the time he returned from a tour of duty in Germany last April until he went to Viet Nam. He had volunteered to serve in Viet Nam despite pleas from his family not to do so.

Sgt. Christy left Mercer High School after his junior year and enlisted in the Army in November 1955. He later received a high school diploma after completing required courses through the Army's education program.
His wife, the former Inge Gerlach of Germany and 8 month old daughter, Diana have been living in Seaside, Calif. He also has two stepsons by his wife's previous marriage. Sgt Christy was married in September 1964 in Germany, where he was stationed from March 1962 to April 1965. He also had served in Korea among other overseas assignments.

At one time during his military career he was an instructor in small arms. Included in his military awards are the sharpshooter's medal and Infantry badge.

Sgt Christy was born Aug 4, 1938, in Mercer, a son of Ambrose and Mary Williams Christy. His mother died in 1940. His father has been a patient for about two months in the Butler (PA) VA Hospital. He was a gas victim while serving in the Army in World War I.

Sgt. Christy also is survived by three brothers, Donald J, Hickory Twp.; Paul, Sharon; and Charles, Farmington, N.M.; and three sisters, Mrs. Glenn (Norma) Redfoot and Mrs. Harold (Lillian) Miller, both of Mercer; and Mrs. Andrew (Amelia) Chaka, Hickory.
A brother Fred died in 1957 from shell shock, suffered while serving in the Navy in World War II.
Funeral service will be held in California when the body is returned to the U.S. Burial tentatively is set to be held in a national cemetery in California.