Always Remember Those Who Gave All: MC WW2 Gold Stars and MIA Survivors

Alexander Christie (1910-2005)

MC Class: 1936

Years at MC: 1932-1936

Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland later Philadelphia, PA

Life at MC: Greek major; Member and Treasurer of Alpha Sigma Literary Society, Honor Roll, Honors Work in Bible, Freshman Debate, Pi Kappa Delta (National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity), Writers' Workshop, Editor of the Chilhowean, Highland Echo staff, President of the Ministerial Association, Hi Trail, YMCA Cabinet

Service Abroad: Missionary to the Philippines, Presbyterian Board of Missions

Date Missing: 1941 (three weeks after arriving in the Philippines)

Prisoner of War Camp: Los Baños POW camp in Philippines (1941-1945)

Notification of Survival: 2 March 1945

Circumstances of Rescue/Escape: Los Baños POW camp in Philippines was liberated on February 23, 1945 in what is considered to be the most daring and successful prison camp raid in WW2. Maryville College alumnus Alexander Charles Gillander (class of 1935), a chaplain accompanying the US military forces that liberated the POW camp, wrote a letter to MC describing the liberation of his fellow classmate Alexander Christie (see "Additional Images"). For more information on the Los Baños raid, see Rescue at Los Baños: The Most Daring Prison Camp Raid of World War II by Bruce Henderson.

Burial/Memorial Information: Carmel Presbyterian Church Memory Garden, Glenside, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202592161/alexander-christie)

Additional Information: Alexander Charles Gillander ('35) and Alexander Christie ('36) were in the Ministerial Association at the same time and likely knew each other well. Following WW2, Alexander Christie and his wife Edith returned to the mission field in the Philippines. "Alexander Christie, July 23 [2005], in Carrollton, GA. The Scotland native held degrees from Princeton and Union theological seminaries. Foreign missionaries with the Presbyterian Church (USA), he and wife Edith served more than 30 years in the Philippines. In 1967, [Maryville] College presented him with an honorary degree. Survivors include one daughter, one son, and their families." (FOCUS, Winter 2006, p. 22)

Additional Images:

March 2, 1945 Letter to Maryville College from ACE Gillander ('35) describing liberation of Alexander Christie ('36) from Los Baños POW Camp

1935 Chilhowean photo of Alexander Charles Gillander as a Senior

1935 Ministerial Association (both Alexander Christie and Alexander Charles Gillander were members this year)