Fw: A son's love for his father, knows no bounds....

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>

> > >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 caliber's 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 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 Capon virtually owned the city. Capone wasn't famous for

> anything

> > >heroic. His exploits were anything but praise worthy. 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, Capon 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.

> > >

> > >Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved

> dearly.

> > >Eddie 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 Capon

> 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 Capon. 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?