Rear Admiral John S. "Jack" Christiansen USN (Ret) Naval Aviator passed-away on April 30, 2008 "The Big Coolie" was Born in London, England on June 8, 1923, to an American mother, Elizabeth, and a Swedish father, Hugo (Christie).
    Commissioned as an Ensign, USNR, and designated as a Naval Aviator in 1943. His flying skill and courage earned him both the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He held many commands, including Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 32, Commander Fleet Air Division (RCVW-4) and Command of the Aircraft Carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64), from 1968-1970 during the Vietnam Conflict. He retired in 1975 after having served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Air Warfare, (OP-05B). He was one of only two enlisted pilots to achieve the rank of Rear Admiral.
    Jack is much loved by his wife Clare of Coupeville, Washington; his daughter Tina; his son Tom; wife Mary, and their grandchildren Loni, Mary Anna, Jack, and Anna, all of Coronado; and his brother, Richard de Onativia, of Atlanta, Georgia. He was buried with military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on May 14, 2008.