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[[ANONYMOUS GUEST ENTRY about two stories THAT ARE CONNECTED ~~ SOMEHOW]]
> 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;
> > 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.
> >
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