Ralph Donald Christian, aged 22, was born on January 10, 1921. He was the son of Otto Julius Christian and Lula B. Bainbridge Christian. He entered the military service in Ohio and served in the 3rd Squadron, 1st Transport Group as a Corporal and Assistant Radio Operator of an aircraft during World War II. Ralph was declared "Missing in Action" on October 27, 1943 and is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Greeley, Weld County, Colorado. He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.