STORY NUMBER ONE:
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 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 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 W.W.II 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 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.
What do these two stories have to do with one another?
Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.
Read the facts behind this story here.
