World War II produced many heroes.
One such man was a 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 ordered him to return to the carrier.
Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to his 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 directly into the
formation of the Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's 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 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 the 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.
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, but Eddie got special
dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion
with live-in help and all the 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
atrocities that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved
dearly. Eddie 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 the best to make a restoration and
hopefully have a good name to leave his son.
So he testified. and 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.
What do these two stories have to do with one another?
Well, you see, Butch O'Hare was Easy Edie's son.