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 mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese Zeroes was 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 fro 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 that 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. Bit 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 are thinking. What do these tow stories have to do with one another? Well you see, Butch O’Hare was Easy Eddie’s son.
Some sort of genetics-based urge to be shot at a lot? Good stories. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Wow, those two stories are excellent... Now I know why O'Hare airport in Chicago is named what it is. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I feel melancholy because of that story and because of his father. People can change, it is when they do it is a miracle. But it is not in my taste that if there is one bad thing you do, people around simply just judge you from that, and only that. They just forget all the good things or many other things people have done. One bad thing, they gossip and label you as bad. Happens everywhere, they don't even realize people can change and they can be granted that chance.
Great Stories!!! Thanks for those stories. Very interesing...Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
To be honest, I had no idea of the source of these stories. I found this tacked to a bulletin board at an office and made a copy to share here. As usual (Thanks Xev) it turns up there is the other side of the coin. I did want to save the origin of where I got the stories until others had a chance to see them. It is odd what you find for office humor and what others would have you take the time to read. I always wonder what is tacked up across the offices of Americana that we have not seen. This is the third time that I have unabashedly ripped off some office board to bring something to sciforums. It does indeed bring discussion to the board. Would any others have any offerings?
If you can ever find a copy, read The Edge Of The Sword by Anthony Farrar-Hockley. It's about his time in the Korean war, and is basically a real-life Rambo story, minus the Hollywood action.
