[1] Unger was born in San Diego, California and graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1939.

After retiring from the foreign service, he taught at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

He began his career in government as a part of the National Resources Planning Board.

[5] He was also the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs in the Johnson administration.

[7][8] Prior to his involvement in South-East and East Asia, Unger was the United States Political Advisor to the Free Territory of Trieste.