If anyone did not shed a tear at the end of the film when the story of a soldier named Daniel Unger was told, they are without feelings.See also, from Daniel Unger - The Iraqi Page:Unger was from Maaske’s hometown of Exeter, California. His heroic actions saved Iraqi lives but cost him his own. Unger’s parents are devastated but spoke on camera and exhibited a rare courage and pride for what their son had done. Knowing their son, they would have been shocked if he had been anything other than a hero.
Daniel Unger Friday, May 28 2004 @ 08:03 AM EST
Contributed by: tomw
TulareAdvanceRegister -- An Army National Guardsman from Exeter was killed in Iraq.
Pfc. Daniel Unger, 19, was killed at an Army base south of Baghdad. His mother, Linda, said the family was informed of his death Wed-nesday morning.
"I want people to know he loved being in the Army," Linda Unger said. "He loved doing what he was doing and serving his country."
Exeter police Lt. Cliff Bush said he knew Unger and his family. Bush said Unger was always polite and friendly.
"There should be more young people like [Daniel] so that police officers like me would be out of a job," Bush said.
Linda Unger said her son had spoken to his father Sunday morning.
"He said, 'I'm in God's hands, dad, don't worry. Whichever way it goes, I'm OK,' " she said. "We believe that."
Daniel Unger turned 19 on March 21, the same day he arrived in Kuwait.
He was born in Mesquite, Texas. When he was 3, his family moved to California.
Daniel Unger graduated from Exeter Union High School in 2003. Two days after his graduation, he was sent to the U.S. Army In-fantry School in Fort Benning, Ga., for basic military training.
Linda Unger said her son graduated from boot camp Oct. 10.
"He was really proud of what he did," Linda Unger said. "He believed he was protecting us in America, and we agreed with him. He'd still be doing it if he could."
Linda Unger said her son and his girlfriend, Elli Peterson, had talked about getting engaged after he returned from the war.
Linda Unger said her son participated with the Bill Glass prison ministries and was a valued center fielder for Exeter High's baseball team.
"He had a good arm on him," Linda Unger said. "He even considered playing baseball for COS."
Steve Garver, Exeter High's baseball coach, said Daniel Unger had a mature view of life. Garver also was his senior-year English teacher.
"Daniel was very focused about what he wanted in his life," Garver said. "Even as a player, he knew he was going into the military. I saw him after boot camp ... and he was very confident in the fact that his God wanted him to be there, and that this was what he wanted to do for his country and fellow man.
"It wasn't a rah-rah kind of belief."
Daniel Unger's father, Marc, is pastor at Exeter Baptist Church. The Unger family also owns a karate studio in Exeter.
Linda Unger said her son had become a fourth-degree black belt before leaving for boot camp.
Marc Unger said his son was active in the church and was a licensed minister.
"Daniel preached an average of once a month for two years before he left for Fort Benning," Marc Unger said. "Daniel was a man of God. He loved Jesus and told everybody he loved Jesus.
"There was a consistency between his profession of faith and the way he lived his life. Everybody knew it."
Marc Unger said he and his wife supported their son's decision to enter the military.
"I think our country is a safer place because of guys like him," Marc Unger said.
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