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 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 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.
Today we celebrate the Birth Of Jesus Christ, he too
knew what HE had to do, and he gave the the Ultimate
Gift to us ALL.