Wichita veteran met husband in the Air Force after transferring to Alaska
CLEARWATER, Kan. (KSNW) — Two weeks ago, KSN introduced viewers to Whitewater veteran Mark Annen and his story of service. Now, the spotlight shifts to his wife, Christina Annen, who also served in the U.S. Air Force.
Christina Annen is a Wichita native who graduated from East High School in 1985, feeling a strong pull toward military service.
'It was natural for me to go into the military,' Annen shared. 'I have lots of family that was in the military, and it is a good way to see the world. I love uniforms. I love being part of a group.'
With that decision made, she carefully considered which branch to join.
'I knew that in basic training, the Air Force only required a mile-and-a-half run,' she said with a laugh. 'At that time, the Navy ran three miles, the Army ran 10, and the Marines ran 20. And I like blue — so the Air Force was the pick for me.'
After completing basic training, Annen attended technical school to become an avionics guidance and control systems technician.
'If you see a movie about an airplane and a crash is going to happen, and they show the pilot's setup and all the indicators are going crazy, that's what I worked on,' she said.
Her work took her to Oklahoma, where she maintained AWACS aircraft, and later to the Philippines, where she worked on F-4 fighter jets.
While she loved the technical aspects of her job, she struggled with the sexism that was prevalent in the field.
'You couldn't be average,' Annen recalled. 'Because if you were average, you were a 'dumb female.' We had to put up with a lot of that.'
Eventually, the hostile work environment prompted Annen to seek a different career path — without leaving the Air Force. She transferred to the postal unit and was stationed at a remote outpost in Galena, Alaska.
'I had no clue about Galena until I got off the plane at 10 o'clock at night, and it was still bright daylight outside,' she remembered.
It was in Galena that she met fellow Air Force veteran Mark Annen. Their connection was immediate.
'We are big believers in Jesus,' she said. 'And when I saw him for the first time, a little voice inside my head said, 'That's the guy you're going to marry.''
They tied the knot on base, solidifying their bond as both service members and life partners.
Annen left the Air Force in 1991 as a Buck Sergeant. When her husband completed his service, they returned to the Wichita area to build a life and raise a family.
Now, reflecting on her journey, Annen deeply appreciates her home state and its support for veterans.
'I am so proud of Kansas for how they treat their veterans,' she said. 'I just don't know that they could do a much better job, honestly.'
If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, send an email to connect3news@ksn.com or fill out our online contact form!
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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