CareersNG

Official website: http://ttx.iqubebase.com

TTX – Programming++ is a 2-day world class training and conference event specially put together for you and it shall be taking place on the 4th & 5th of January, 2013 at University of Lagos, Guests House – Conference Hall A by 8:30AM daily. The first of its kind was held in April, and it was...

Below are rules to follow in using this forum.

1) Posts are to be made in the relevant forum; Kindly read the forum descriptions before posting.

2)Members should post in a way that is respectful of other users. Flaming or abusing users in any way will not be tolerated.

3)Members should use an appropriate, descriptive title when posting a new topic. Examples of bad titles include;...

by Stan Banash Only a handful of these distinguished warriors are left throughout the United States, but Morris Factor, who rose to the rank of corporal in the 5307th Composite Unit (provisional) recalls his World War II experiences as Veterans Day approaches. He was a member of the elite jungle fighting group that later became celebrated in book and film as Merrill's Marauders, a name coined by a Life magazine reporter who was assigned to the unit. Factor, 94, now a resident of Norwood Crossing, a long-term care retirement community on Chicago's far northwest side at 6016-20 N. Nina Ave. in Chicago, may be the last surviving member of this special group living in the Chicago metropolitan area. With thoughts of completing his education, Factor had just entered his sophomore year at Herzel College in Chicago when the United States entered World War II. He knew he was classified as 1-A and would soon be drafted. Rather than wait and end up in the infantry, he decided to enlist to get into the engineers, which he did. The year was early 1942. &quot;After basic training, I was sent to Douglas, Arizona as part of the 930th Engineers to map part of the western Mexican coastline,&quot; he said. &quot;When we finished and returned to our base, some of us were ordered to Fort Lewis, Washington. We arrived there, and saw these beautiful barracks. <br /> &quot;Which one are we going to?&quot; he asked the MP, who looked away from the barracks and instead gestured to a cluster of tents about three-quarters of a mile away. &quot;We weren't going to any barracks,&quot; said Factor. &quot;Toting our duffel bags, we soon found ourselves with the 1st Ranger Battalion. None of us knew what a Ranger was, but we soon found out. cComments Got something to say? Start the conversation and be the first to comment. Add a comment 0 &quot;We underwent training in the nearby mountainous areas of Washington. We were blindfolded and driven to a remote place, dropped off with 75 pounds of equipment each and told to navigate by the stars, pitch camp overnight and find our way home the next day. The 45 cal. pistol, 30 cal carbine, rifle and machine gun, and hand-to-hand combat were our weapons Henrik Lundqvist Jersey. I qualified as a marksman. After this, we were shipped to North Africa and on to India for jungle warfare training. We were now part of the 10th Air Force.&quot; Factor became part of the 5307th when the group, officially formed on Sept. 18, 1943. It was comprised of about 3,000 officers and men (300 at headquarters), including some from Gen. Douglas MacArthur's command, island-hopping battle-tested veterans , others experienced in jungle warfare, and some volunteers from stockades who joined to get their freedom. &quot;The volunteers were from the Bronx and tough,&quot; said Factor. &quot;We called them the Dead End Kids,&quot; referring to the juvenile delinquents who appeared in films of the era The 5307th, code named Galahad, fell under the Northern Combat Area Command of Brig. Gen. Joseph Stillwell; the Composite Unit was commanded by Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill. On February 24, 1944, the 5307th, formed into three battalions and further into two combat teams per battalion. A total of about 2,700 combat troops moved out with about 700 horses and mules for carrying supplies. They fought five major battles while engaging the crack 18th and 25th Japanese divisions on their way to taking the airport at Myitkyina. Factor fought in four of them-Walabum, Shaduzup, Inkangahtawng, and Ledo/Myitkyina. The latter opened the Ledo Road and connected it with the city of Kunming , China. The 5307th holds the unit record of fighting the longest period (six months) in continuous combat, covering about 1,000 miles. In the process, many of the men, including Factor, suffered from malaria, denge fever, jungle fever, and dysentery, but they fought on, consistently engaging the Japanese. In some battles, wave after wave of Japanese soldiers charged their positions , but were repelled every time, leaving hundreds dead on the battlefield. As the Marauders moved toward their objectives, they picked leeches off their skin with their knives, and bathed in the rivers where many of them contracted dysentery. On occasion, Factor still suffers from Denge fever, whereby his body begins to sweat and ache. By the time, the Maruaders were disbanded in August 1944, the 5307th had suffered more than 90 percent casualties from death, wounds and disease. Only a little more than 100 men were rated fit for combat. Their bravery was recognized, and each man received a Bronze Star and the 5307th received the Distinguished Unit Citation (renamed the Presidential Unit Citation in 1946). Factor received a bronze battle star for each of his engagements. Those members of the unit that were not airlifted out during their campaign were transported by boat to the west coast. &quot;When I got off the boat in Los Angeles, I kissed the ground. I was so happy to be back,&quot; he said. &quot;It is so wonderful to live in this country. I was glad to be home.&quot; He was discharged at Fort Sheridan, returned to Chicago, and worked for a time as an auto parts salesman. But he spent the majority of his time, until retiring at the age of 90 in 2010, selling window treatments. He was married to his wife, Geraldine, for nearly 50 years. Now, as a resident of Norwood Crossing, he reflects on Veterans Day. &quot;I'm glad that war is over, but there were many other wars that followed,&quot; he said. &quot;War shouldn't happen. Millions of people are killed and for what? As veterans, we know what took place, and we know what we did. Veterans Day honors those who served. I am thankful.&quot;<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Norwood Life Society is a non-profit organization in Chicago and sponsor of Norwood Crossing (Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, Rehab, Medicare, Respite Stays) and Norwood Seniors Network (In-Home Senior Caregiving, Care Management, Home Delivered Meals, Transportation Services, Social Outings, Norwood Park Senior Center). Norwood Life Society has been Reshaping Aging&reg; in Chicago's Norwood Park community and nearby suburbs since 1896. Learn more at: Carl Hagelin Jersey