Butch and Eddy
*** I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW ***
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 mothership, he saw
something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese Zeroes 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 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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