WWII Essay, Research Paper

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant

Commander Butch O’Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft

carrier Lexington 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 bombers 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

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 planes, 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 had destroyed five enemy bombers. That was on

February 20, 1942, and for that action he became the Navy’s first Ace

of

WWII and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of

Honor.

A year later he was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home

town would not allow the memory of that heroic action die. And today,

O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this

great man.

So the next time you’re in O’Hare visit his memorial with his statue

and

Medal of Honor. It is located between terminal 1 and 2.

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 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. 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.

_____