Two Stories to be Read!
Below are 2 good war stories. One is of a conventional war, the other is of an eternal war....
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 mothership, 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 defense-less. 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.