MONGER-ALBERT

Excerpts from obituary published in San Diego Union-Tribune on 7/14/2015:

RADM Albert J. (Jack) Monger passed away on July 7, 2015 at his home in San Diego, California, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.  He was born on January 30, 1926, in El Centro, California, graduated from Brawley Union High School in 1943 and immediately joined the US Navy, attending UCLA as a Naval Aviation Cadet.  The demand for Navy pilots created by WW II was such that after only two years of college he was sent to flight school.  In 1947 Jack earned his Navy wings of gold and was commissioned an Ensign.  Shortly afterward he made his first combat deployment to Korea with VF-191.  Following that deployment Jack was on a brief training assignment to Corpus Christi, Texas, when he spotted the love of his life, Billie Jean O'Neal, at a local drive-in.  Another Korean War deployment followed just a few months later but the couple was married upon his return in August 1951 and departed the next day for their next duty assignment in New Jersey.  Always together, they lived at more than 15 different duty stations and were the perfect Navy husband and wife team, raising six kids and handling numerous extended combat deployments. 

Jack attended the Navy's Test Pilot School in 1953 and later returned to UCLA for his bachelor's degree in 1961.  He later attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1970 and also earned an MBA from George Washington University.  He was devoted to the Navy for 37 years and retired in 1980 with the rank of Rear Admiral.  As a Navy pilot Jack participated in the Korean and Viet Nam Wars earning numerous personal awards for bravery including three Silver Stars, five Distinguished Flying Crosses and over 15 Air Medals.  But the award he treasured most was the rare Presidential Unit Citation earned by the air wing he commanded, CVW-21, and the carrier USS BONHOMME RICHARD while deployed to Viet Nam in 1967.  Superb pilot skills, calm demeanor, a keen sense of humor and humbleness made him an exceptional pilot and an outstanding leader.  During his remarkable career he commanded an A-4 squadron (VA-93), a carrier air wing (CVW-21), an ammunition ship (USS MAUNA KEA, AE-22), an aircraft carrier (USS HANCOCK, CVA-19) and a carrier strike group (CARGRU-1). 

Following Navy retirement Jack lived briefly in Thousand Oaks, California, where he was an executive for ARCO Solar and built some of the first solar power installations.  He eventually settled in San Diego in 1981 where Jack ran Monger Industries until finally retiring in 2009.  Jack and Billie were married for 55 years until Billie's passing in 2006.  He was a member of the Golden Eagles and several alumni associations from Navy commands and groups where he served.  Jack is survived by his six children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  He will be interred at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego with his wife Billie. 

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)