Ferdinand T. Unger – Lieutenant General, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

Ferdinand T. “Finn” Unger, 85, an Army lieutenant general who served in Okinawa during the Vietnam War as U.S. High Commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands, died January 31, 1999 at Arlington Hospital. He lived in Arlington.

General Unger was also operations director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff office during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. On Okinawa, he commanded the largest Pacific logistical support facility supplying combat forces.

After he retired in 1970 as plans and policy director for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he was governor for seven years of the U.S. Soldiers and Airmens Home in Northeast Washington.

General Unger, a Pittsburgh native, attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1937. While a cadet, he played against Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio in the Academy’s annual exhibition game with the New York Yankees. He later graduated from the War College.

He commanded a field artillery battalion in Europe during World War II and later was commanding general of infantry divisions in Germany and Korea.

His honors included two Distinguished Service Medals, five Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals. He was a member of the Association of the U.S. Army, the Field Artillery Association, the Army-Navy Club and the Army-Navy Country Club. He was president of his West Point class association.

Survivors include his wife, Bayly Bucher Unger of Arlington; two sons, James T. Unger of Montara, Calif., and Charles K. Unger of Alexandria; a brother; a sister; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

UNGER, FERDINAND T., LTG, USA (Ret.)

On Sunday, January 31, 1999, of Arlington, VA, beloved husband of Bayly B. Unger; father of James T. Unger of Montara, CA and Charles K. Unger of Alexandria, VA; brother of Colonel James Unger and Teresa Unger. Also survived by three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 10, at 12:45 p.m. at the Ft. Myer Chapel in Arlington National Cemetery. Interment will immediately follow with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to West Point Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Rd., West Point, NY 10996.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard