John Christy Col.

John J. Christy, Col., USA, Ret., Indianapolis, passed away on February 15, 2011 at the age of 96. He was a loving son and brother, a devoted husband and father, and an avid sportsman, with significant accomplishments as a student, a military officer and a civilian. John was loved by many and will be missed by all. Born in 1914 in Cranston, Rhode Island, John was the son of Anthony and Frances (Zito) Christy, and the oldest of three sisters (Marie, Helen, Etta) and two brothers (Alphonse and Joseph). He was a member of the Cranston High School state championship football team, was named a second team all-state player, and received a football scholarship to Rhode Island College, now the University of Rhode Island. During his college years, John worked as a reporter for the Providence Journal, played football, was an ROTC cadet and a member of Theta Chi fraternity, served as managing editor of the school’s yearbook and newspaper, and was elected student body president. He was voted by his college classmates as the one “Most Likely to Succeed.” He graduated in 1938. John married Yolande Jeanne Morin, also of Cranston, in 1943. They were married for more than 50 years before Yolande passed away in 1995, having raised five children (Robert, Thomas, Rena, Marla, Susan) across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, New York, and Indiana. During World War II, John was a company commander and battalion commander in the 26th Yankee Division of the 101st Infantry Regiment, one of the troopers in Patton’s 3rd Army who faced some of the worst fighting of the Battle of the Bulge. In early December 1944, as commander of Company L, he marched with his troops into German-occupied Sarre Union, France, leading his men to hold their ground through intense fighting, actions which earned him the Silver Star. Later that month, John led his men across the Sure River in Luxembourg, gaining high ground and holding firm against a German counteroffensive, capturing the enemy positions. He won the Distinguished Service Cross in the battle. After the war, John’s newspaper background earned him assignments in public affairs, working at the Pentagon for the Army and the Department of Defense. In 1964, having attained the rank of Colonel, John was named post commander of Fort Slocum, NY. He also served as the first commandant of the Defense Information School there, with a mission to provide a communications program to increase collaboration among all the branches of the military and also between civilian and military media. DINFOS became known as “the purple-suit school,” because, according to John, if you put all the services’ uniforms in a washing machine, the colors would combine to create a purple suit. He relocated DINFOS to Fort Harrison, Indiana, in 1965. He was later named “Commandant Emeritus” of the school and joined the DINFOS Alumni Association Hall of Fame. In 1969, after retiring from the Army, John served as executive director of Crossroads Rehabilitation Center in Indianapolis. He was active in Indianapolis community affairs, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, and received the Governor's Sagamore of the Wabash honor for outstanding community service. John is survived by sisters Marie (Peter) Rocchio and Etta Crudale, sons Robert and Thomas, daughters Rena, Marla, and Susan (Gary) Rockoff, grandchildren Daniel and Melanie Rockoff, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Visitation Saturday, February 19, 2011, 5:00-8:00pm at Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center-Broad Ripple. Funeral and interment Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 8:45am, Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Stroke Association. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From the Providence Journal February 17, 2011 Passages: Retired Col. John J. Christy, 96, honored in WWII By Thomas J. Morgan Journal Staff Writer Retired Army Col. John J. Christy, 96, a native of Cranston and a highly decorated soldier in World War II, died Tuesday in Indianapolis, Ind. Christy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor. According to a narrative that accompanied the award, Christy — then a captain in command of an infantry company, but promoted to major before he received it — led his soldiers in assault boats across the Sure River near Hoecht, Luxembourg, during the Battle of the Bulge. “By skillful disposition of his men and brilliant leadership, Major Christy drove back two hostile fanatical counterattacks, each time inflicting heavy losses on the enemy,” the narrative said. “Major Christy, in the face of German machine gun, mortar and artillery fire, with complete disregard for his personal safety, moved among his men, heroically directing the company’s firepower and supporting artillery fire. As a result of his bold leadership and sound tactical judgment, the enemy attack was repulsed and enemy attempts to drive into the Sure River bridgehead completely nullified.” In another action, he earned the Silver Star, the third-highest decoration. The citation read: “In the vicinity of Sarre Union, France, he made a personal reconnaissance and led his unit forward under hostile mortar, machine gun and small arms fire to take a group of stubbornly defended buildings within the town. The enemy counter-attacked with ferocity and were repulsed with heavy losses.” He also received the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Purple Heart. In 1946, Gov. John O. Pastore awarded him the Rhode Island Cross. During World War II, Christy saw action in Europe with the 79th, the 86th and the 26th (Yankee) divisions. After the war, he served as chief public information officer for the Army in the Pacific. In 1964, he was appointed the first commandant of the joint services Defense School of Information, located first at Fort Slocum, N.Y., and then at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. Born in 1914, Christy was a son of the late Anthony and Frances (Zito) Christy. Christy was a 1938 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, then known as Rhode Island College, and earned a commission as a reserve Army lieutenant in July of that year through the Reserve Officers Training Corps. He was editor of the campus paper and general campus reporter for The Providence Journal. In his senior year, he also worked on the night sports desk of The Journal. Christy was also a graduate of the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and of other military education institutions. The husband of the late Yolande Morin, also of Cranston, to whom he was married for more than 50 years, he is survived by two sons, Robert and Thomas; three daughters, Rena, Marla and Susan Rockoff; two sisters, Marie Rocchio and Etta Crudale; and two grandchildren.