Jack Christian was born on November 19, 1915, in San Francisco, California. He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1935, and was commissioned a 2d Lt of Field Artillery on June 12, 1939. Lt Christian then entered Flight Training with the U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1939, and completed Flight Training and was awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on June 21, 1940. His first assignment was as a Flight Instructor at Randolph Field, Texas, from June 1940 to March 1941, followed by service as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 19th Bomb Group at March Field, California, and then at Albuquerque, New Mexico, from March to September 1941. He then deployed with his unit to Clark Field on Luzon, Philippines, in October 1941, and after the Japanese attack in December 1941, he moved with his unit to Australia. He then flew combat as a fighter pilot with the 67th Fighter Squadron and 1st Air Group in Australia, New Caledonia, and Guadalcanal, before returning to the United States in January 1943. Lt Col Christian took command of the 361st Fighter Group upon its activation at Richmond Army Air Field, Virginia, on February 10, 1943, and then transferred with his unit to Langley Field, Virginia, in May 1943, to Millville Army Air Field, New Jersey in July 1943, to Camp Springs Army Air Field, Maryland, in August 1943, back to Richmond Army Air Field in September 1943, and then deployed to England in November 1943. Col Christian began flying combat with the Group as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in January 1944, and the group converted to the P-51 Mustang in May 1944. He was killed in action on a combat mission over Boisleux-au-Mont, France, on August 12, 1944. Although it is believed he was buried at the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery in Arras, France, his remains have never been positively identified. Jack Christian was the son of U.S. Army Brigadier General Thomas J.J. Christian, Sr., a 1911 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy; and he was the great-great grandson of Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, an 1846 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a Fighter Airplane of the 1st Air Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1942. Major Christian repeatedly fought off enemy Japanese fighters in defense of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. He especially distinguished himself by outstanding service on 14 September 1942, when, with a total of three airplanes in the air, he helped bomb and strafe enemy positions in the face of heavy fire. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Christian, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.