Sgt Alex J. Unger Biography

Sergeant Alex Jerome Unger

World War II

US Army
722nd Engineer Depot Company
Service Number: 37346601
Born: 1923 in Otis
Inducted: October 1942
Killed in action October 25, 1944, Leyte
Buried: Plot B, Row 7, Grave 144
Manila American Cemetery, Philippines

Purple Heart

Son of Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt S. Unger of Denver (formerly of Otis).

Manila American Cemetery

Photo by Manila AC ABMC Staff

Thursday November 23, 1944 The Akron News-Reporter

Former Otis Youth Dies in Pacific Area

Sgt. Alex J. Unger, 21, who formerly resided in Otis with his parents, was killed in action in the Philippines Oct. 25. Notification was received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dea Unger, from the government this week.

Sgt. Unger met death on Leyte, six months after going overseas. He enlisted in Denver in October, 1942.

He was born in Otis, where he grew to young manhood. In 1940 he graduated from the Otis high school.

He is survived by his parents, and two brothers, William Lee in the navy and Gerald Rex, now in the merchant marine officers' training school in San Francisco, Cal.

Thursday November 30, 1944 The Otis Independent

Memorial Services for Sergeant Alex Unger Will be Held Sunday.

(Caption - photo above) Sgt. Alex J. (Bud) Unger, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.S. Unger, who was killed in action on the island of Leyte in the Philippine Islands, on October 25th.

Memorial services will be held at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Otis Sunday afternoon, December 3, for Sergeant Alex Jerome Unger, son of Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt S. Unger of Denver, former Otis residents.

Sergeant Unger was killed on Leyte Island in the Philippines on October 25.

The services will be conducted by Rev. Lillich, pastor of the church, and will be assisted by the local Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 3961, with Harold Simpson, as Senior Vice-Commander in charge of the VFW portion of the service.

Thursday November 30, 1944 The Akron News-Reporter

Memorial services for Alex J. Unger will be held Sunday, December 3 in St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Otis, with the Rev. Adolph Lillich pastor of the church, officiating.

Young Unger was killed October 25 in action on Leyte of the Philippines. He is survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. D.S. Unger and an older brother, Rex, who is serving in the merchant marines, and a younger brother, Bill, who is in the navy.

Buddy, as he was familiarly called by his friends, was born and grew to young manhood in Otis, graduating from high school there in 1940. He took an active part in athletics and other activities of the school and was very popular. The family moved to Denver about two years ago, where they now reside.

Notes:

A history of the 722 Engineer Depot Company can be found at http://www.dempseydesign.com/722/.

According to that history, on the evening of 25 October 1944 a Japanese plane dropped bombs into the depot area setting off stockpiled demolitions and ammunition.