Raymond Unger
Bio
Raymond Unger was born on November 5, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. The son of Austrian immigrants, he graduated from Parker High School in 1948. After high school, he worked a crane operator for US Steel. He was drafted into the Army in 1951. After basic training and cook school at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he was deployed to Korea via the troop ship, USS John Pope. As a replacement attached to the 2nd Army Division, his job was resupplying front line soldiers with supplies and evacuating wounded soldiers. While evacuating the wounded, he was captured by North Korean soldiers. During his captivity, he spent time in Pyongyang and in Camp #3 situated on the Yalu River. He remained a prisoner of war through the armistice after which he returned to the United States and was discharged from the Army.
Clips
Captured by North Koreans
Raymond Unger tells the story of how he was captured by five North Korean soldiers.
I Thought My Life Was Over
Raymond Unger describes being interrogated during his first week as a POW.
Life in POW Camp #3
Raymond Unger describes the living conditions in Camp #3 during his time as a prisoner of war.
I Knew I Was Going to Survive
Raymond Unger talks about his will to survive as a prisoner of war.
Bittersweet Homecoming
Raymond Unger talks about coming home after spending most of the war as a POW and his treatment from family and friends.