林德出生於華盛頓特區，雙親是瑪麗蓮沃克和弗蘭克林德。他曾受洗但沒有成為羅馬天主教徒，並成長於馬利蘭州銀泉。當他10歲，他的家人搬到加利福尼亞州聖安塞爾莫[3]。林德在孩童時代患上一種腸道疾病。14歲時林德的健康改善，後來他就讀於Redwood High School成為一個插班生。之後，他轉移到Tamiscal High School。在那裡，他學習了世界的文化，其中包括伊斯蘭和中東地區。[3]林德後來離開了學校，在16歲時通過加州高中水平考試最終獲得了高中文憑。
林德於11月25日在阿富汗北部昆都士省被北方聯盟部隊抓獲，並由中央情報局（CIA）的人員約翰尼“邁克”施潘（Johnny "Mike" Spann）和另一名軍官在阿布都·拉希德·杜斯塔姆將軍部隊駐紮地Qala-i-Jangi問話。在英國第4頻道上顯示的新聞，施潘問林德「你是否愛爾蘭共和軍的成員？」施潘這樣問是因為在小組中的伊拉克人在接受施潘問話時認定林德為說英語的人。林德被告知說他是「愛爾蘭人」，以避免出現問題。[8]不久後，大約11時許，臨時監獄成為了塔利班暴動的地方，在那裡與施潘一起喪生的還有數百名外國武裝分子。根據CNN記者羅伯特楊佩爾頓（Robert Young Pelton）對其他俘虜的採訪，林德對於計劃中的暴動完全知情，但保持沉默，沒有與美國人合作。[8]即使他的綁匪可能會為他提供了更好的待遇，不過林德沒有報告他的美國公民身份。[9]
^PAUL J. McNULTY UNITED STATES ATTORNEY. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA vs JOHN PHILLIP WALKER LINDH – CRIMINAL NO. 02-37-A(PDF). UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT. April 2, 2002 [2007-08-01]. （原始内容存档(PDF)于2017-08-25）. On December 14, 2001, Lindh was flown from Camp Rhino to the USS Peleliu where he received the following treatment: 12 days after his US capture in Afghanistan, he was operated on by the Peleliu’s senior surgeon to remove the bullet lodged in his leg; he received daily medical treatment for the bullet wound as well as mild frostbite on his toes; he received various forms of medication including Motrin and Keflex (an antibiotic). He and his fellow detainees were advised five times per day as to the time for prayer and the brig supervisor called up to the deck to ascertain the location of Mecca so that he could advise the detainees in which direction to pray. He and his fellow detainees were provided Quorans to facilitate their prayers. He was permitted to shower twice a week and to wash his feet every day. He was given meals and unlimited water, was permitted to talk with his fellow detainees; and he was repeatedly queried by Peleliu personnel whether there was anything else he needed.
