Two very true stories
True story #1
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant
Commander
Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier
Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on
a
mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and
realized
that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have
enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His
flight
leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of
formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned
his
blood cold. A squadron of Japanese bombers were speeding their way
toward
the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the
fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring
them
back in time to save the fleet. Nor, could he warn the fleet of the
approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow
divert
them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he
dove
into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed
as
he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.
Butch
wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes
as
possible until finally all his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he
continued
the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to at least clip off a wing
or
tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and
rendering
them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep
them
from reaching the American ships.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another
direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to
the
carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding
his
return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tale.
It
showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He
had
destroyed five enemy bombers.
That was on February 20, 1942, and for that action he became the Navy's
first Ace of WWII and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional
Medal
of Honor.
A year later he was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home
town
would not allow the memory of that heroic action die. And today, O'Hare
Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great
man. So
the next time you're in O'Hare visit his memorial with his statue and
Medal
of Honor. It is located between terminal 1 and 2.
And now for story #2.
Some years earlier there was a man in Chicago called Easy Eddie. At
that
time, Al Capone virtually owned the city. Capone wasn't famous for
anything
heroic. His exploits were anything but praiseworthy. He was, however,
notorious for enmeshing the city of Chicago in everything from
bootlegged
booze and prostitution to murder.
Easy Eddie was Capone's lawyer and for a good reason. He was very good!
In
fact, his skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long
time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was
the
money big; Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family
occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the
conveniences
of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago
City
block.
Yes, Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little
consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddy did have
one
soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddy saw to it
that
his young son had the best of everything; clothes, cars, and a good
education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his
involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right
from
wrong. Yes, Eddie tried to teach his son to rise above his own sordid
life.
He wanted him to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth
and
influence, there were two things that Eddie couldn't give his son. Two
things that Eddie sacrificed to the Capone mob that he could not pass
on to
his beloved son: a good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Offering his son a
good
name was far more important than all the riches he could lavish on him.
He
had to rectify all the wrong that he had done. He would go to the
authorities and tell the truth about Scar-face Al Capone. He would try
to
clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some resemblance of
integrity.
To do this he must testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost
would
be great. But more than anything, he wanted to be an example to his
son. He
wanted to do his best to make restoration and hopefully have a good
name to
leave his son. So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life
ended
in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. He had given his son
the
greatest gift he had to offer at the greatest price he would ever pay.
I
know what you're thinking. What do these two stories have to do with
one
another? Well, you see, Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.
