STORY #1
Many years ago, Al Capone (pictured above on left) virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for gambling, bootlegging, bribery, narcotics trafficking, bank robberies, prostitution, and murder. He once said, “It’s not that I enjoy robbing banks and killing people; but it keeps me out of trouble.”
And Capone did stay out of trouble. It seemed that law enforcement couldn’t touch him. This is because Capone had a lawyer nicknamed ‘Easy Eddie’ (pictured above on right). Eddie was Capone’s lawyer, and was very good at it. In fact, Eddie’s skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid Easy Eddie very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. 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.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocities 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 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 his son right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. One day, in the 1920s, Eddie came home to find his son sprawled on a couch, doing nothing but eating doughnuts. The father decided that his boy was showing signs of laziness, so Eddie enrolled him in a military academy.
Eddie wanted the best for his son and wanted to give him every opportunity. Yet, with all his wealth and influence and good intentions, there were two things he couldn’t give his son. He couldn’t pass on a good name or a good example, and he knew that both were important.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al Capone, clean up his own tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against the Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. Still, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie paid the ultimate price. His life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But he had given his son the greatest gift he could give.
STORY #2
Lieutenant Commander Butch O’Hare was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific during World War II. 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 Aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a Sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. There was only one thing for the young pilot to do—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 all his ammunition was finally spent.
Undaunted, he continued the assault without ammunition. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O’Hare and his tattered fighter somehow limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported to his commander. Later, the film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed Butch’s daring attempt to protect his fleet. In all, he destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy’s first Ace of World War II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Medal of Honor.
The next year Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this hero to fade away. So, today O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. Butch’s memorial statue is located between Terminals One and Two.
What do these two stories have to do with each other? Butch O’Hare was “Easy Eddie’s” son (pictured above in center, and below).
************************************
Proverbs 22:1 — A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
John 15: 3 — Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Ezekiel 18:17f — The Lord says, “(Suppose a man) has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things… 17b …He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people… 25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?… 30 Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone,” declares the Sovereign Lord. “Repent and live!”
***********************************
PARENTS’ PRAYER AFTER THE BIRTH OF A SON: We thank Thee, O God our Father, for giving us this son to bring up for Thee. Help us to set him a good example in all we think or say or do. Keep him well in body and mind, and grant that he may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Thy Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
–From Prayers New and Old, ed. by Clement Walsh
Related Posts
