HJALMAR A. CHRISTENSEN, 2LT, USMC

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Hjalmar Christensen '21

Date of birth: February 24, 1898

Date of death: April 9, 1922

Age: 24

Lucky Bag

From the 1921 Lucky Bag:

1921 Christensen LB.jpg

Hjalmar Adolph Christensen

Cass Lake, Minnesota

"Red" "Christy" "King"

TWENTY lost a man and Twenty-one claimed a friend when the flu and pneumonia claimed and held Red for over six months of his first First Class year, during which time he learned to call more doctors and nurses by their first name than an ordinary man does in a lifetime.

King boarded the stern of Twenty-one just after she shoved off on her First Class cruise.

The Math Department did not take him seriously enough or perhaps took him too seriously Plebe year. The result was that he took two weeks of Youngster leave to show them he meant business through the medium of a re-exam.

Christy is always ready for a good time and he certainly does know how to inject the spirit of cheerfulness into those around him. Ask anyone who has made a liberty with him if he has ever been a drag on the party.

Norway claims this Viking and has given to him the heritage of the North—cool judgment, self-control, perseverance, an eye for details, and the wanderlust.

Batt. C.P.O.; Glee Club (3, 1); Choir (3, 1); Manager Musical Clubs (1).


The Class of 1921 was the last of the wartime-accelerated classes. "1921A" was graduated on June 3, 1920; the second half, "1921B", was graduated on June 2, 1921. Hjalmar was graduated with 1921A.

1921 Christensen LB.jpg

Hjalmar Adolph Christensen

Cass Lake, Minnesota

"Red" "Christy" "King"

TWENTY lost a man and Twenty-one claimed a friend when the flu and pneumonia claimed and held Red for over six months of his first First Class year, during which time he learned to call more doctors and nurses by their first name than an ordinary man does in a lifetime.

King boarded the stern of Twenty-one just after she shoved off on her First Class cruise.

The Math Department did not take him seriously enough or perhaps took him too seriously Plebe year. The result was that he took two weeks of Youngster leave to show them he meant business through the medium of a re-exam.

Christy is always ready for a good time and he certainly does know how to inject the spirit of cheerfulness into those around him. Ask anyone who has made a liberty with him if he has ever been a drag on the party.

Norway claims this Viking and has given to him the heritage of the North—cool judgment, self-control, perseverance, an eye for details, and the wanderlust.

Batt. C.P.O.; Glee Club (3, 1); Choir (3, 1); Manager Musical Clubs (1).


The Class of 1921 was the last of the wartime-accelerated classes. "1921A" was graduated on June 3, 1920; the second half, "1921B", was graduated on June 2, 1921. Hjalmar was graduated with 1921A.

Loss

From Find A Grave:

Died of myocarditis and influenza. Burial at Cass Lake on April 12, 1922.

Other Information

The Marine Corps Gazette and Army-Navy-Air Force Register and Defense Times reported on his death.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Hjalmar graduated with ten others from Cass High School in 1915. He was secretary of the senior class and played center on the basketball team. As a sophomore, Hjalmar was in the 1913 senior class play “The Elopement of Ellen.” Class Prophecy: Congressman Hjalmar Christensen will give his maiden speech in the House of Representatives, on the negative side of the Woman Suffrage Question. . . . Harold Lett . . . and Hjalmar (or as he had been called in school, King) had always remained staunch friends and were now working shoulder to shoulder on the Anti-Woman Suffrage Question.

Photographs

Memorial Hall Error

Illness is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall. Also, he was a 2nd Lieutenant of Marines; Memorial Hall has simply "LT" which is and was not a rank.


Class of 1921

Hjalmar is one of 32 members of the Class of 1921 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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