Historical stories

Story number one:

World War II produced many heroes. One was Butch O'Hare, a fighter pilot
assigned to a carrier in the South Pacific.

The squadron was sent on a mission, and as he got airborne, a glance at his
fuel gauge showed that no one had topped 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 returnto the carrier.
 
Reluctantly he dropped out of formation. As he was returning to the ship, he
saw a squadron of Japanese Zeroes speeding their way toward the American
fleet.
 
With the American fighters gone, 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.
With no regard to his own safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese
planes.  Guns blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy
plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now-broken formation
and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was gone.
 
But still 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. 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 lived in
a mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day.  The
estate was so large that it filled an entire city block. 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.  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, and testify
against The Mob, although he knew the cost would be great. But more than
anything, he wanted to be an example to 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.
 
So, the question is, what do these two stories have to do with one another?
 
Well, you see, Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.