The Story of Butch O' Hare

During the course of World War II, many people gained fame in one
way or another. One man was Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot
assigned to an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. One time his entire
squadron was assigned to fly a particular mission. After he was
airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had
forgotten to top off his fuel tank. Because of this, he would not have
enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship.

His flight leader told him to leave formation and return. As he was
returning to the mother ship, he could see a squadron of Japanese
Zeroes heading toward the fleet to attack. And with all the fighter
planes gone, the fleet was almost defenceless. His was the only
opportunity to distract and divert them. Single-handily, he dove into
the formation of Japanese planes and attacked them. The American
fighter planes were rigged with cameras, so that as they flew and
fought, pictures were taken so pilots could learn more about the
terrain, enemy manoeuvres, etc.

Butch dove at them and shot until all his ammunition was gone, then
he would dive and try to clip off a
wing or tail or anything that would make the enemy planes unfit to fly.
He did anything he could to keep them from reaching the American
ships. Finally, the Japanese squadron took off in another direction,
and Butch O' Hare and his fighter, both badly shot up, limped back to
the carrier. He told his story, but not until the film from the camera on
his plane was developed, did they realize the extent he really went to,
to protect his fleet. He was recognized as a hero and given one of the
nation's highest military honours. And as you may know, O'Hare
Airport was named after him.

Prior to this time in Chicago, there was a man called Easy Eddie. He
was working for a man Al Capone. Al Capone wasn't famous for
anything heroic, but he was notorious for the murders he'd committed
and the illegal thing's he'd done. Easy Eddie was Al Capone's lawyer
and he was very good. In fact, because of his skill, he was able to
keep Al Capone out of jail. To show his appreciation, Al Capone paid
him very well. He not only earned big money, he would get extra
things, like a residence that filled an entire Chicago city block.

The house was fenced, and he had live-in help and all of the
conveniences of the day. Easy Eddie had a son. He loved his son
and gave him all the best things while he was growing up, - clothes,
cars, and a good education. And, because he loved his son he tried
to teach him right from wrong. But one thing he couldn't give his son
was a good name, and a good example. Easy Eddie decided that this
was much more important than all the riches he had given him. So, he
went to the authorities in order to rectify the wrong he had done.

In order to tell the truth, it meant he must testify against Al Capone, and
he knew that Al Capone would do his best to have him killed. But he
wanted most of all to try to be an example and to do the best he could
to give back to his son, a good name. So he testified. Within the year,
he was shot and killed on a lonely street in Chicago. These sound like
two unrelated stories, but Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.