Story number one: World War II produced many heroes.
One such man was Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned
to an aircraft carrier 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 Zeroes was
speeding its 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 calibers blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised
enemy plane and then another. Butch weaved 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 Zeroes, 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 was
recognized as a hero and given one of the nation's highest military
honors. And today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute
to the courage of this great man.
Story number two: 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 semblance 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.
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