William Thomas Unger

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to William Thomas Unger (295878), Platoon sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company B, Fifth Tank Battalion, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 20 February 1945. Upon observing that an accompanying tank had been hit and disabled by enemy fire, Platoon Sergeant Unger immediately brought his vehicle to a halt and covered the evacuation of the other tank’s crew although Japanese infantry were close by and a hostile antitank gun was maintaining a constant attack on both tanks. When it became impossible for his tank’s weapons to cover all the sources of enemy small-arms fire, he opened his tank hatch and, at the risk of his life, augmented the tank’s weapons by firing on the Japanese with his pistol. Continuing his efforts until the evacuation was completed, he then attacked the antitank gun, destroying the gun, crew and about twenty other enemy in the vicinity. His leadership, courage and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific: Serial 45500