A Take a Break Story

August 22, 2005

Hi [[firstname]], welcome back. 

Enough already? 

I have often wondered how many consecutive educational 
bulletins will subscribers receive before they says, 
"ENOUGH ALREADY!"

That said, earlier this year I started to introduce a 
little non-technical story telling into the bulletin 
lineup. So, if you've been looking for that break from 
your day-to day stress, you'll want to be sure to read 
this week's bulletin. 

Have a nice day, keep the faith, and stay connected.

Bill Gaw
Business Basics, LLC
Bg@bbasicsllc.com
760-945-5596

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TWO AMAZING STORIES

Story Number One:

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was 
Lieutenant Commander, Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter 
pilot assigned to the 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 was speeding its 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. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching 
danger. 

There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert 
the bombers. 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, 
firing at as many planes as possible, until 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 W.W.II 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 hometown would not allow the memory of his 
heroic action to 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 
notorious for enmeshing the city of Chicago in 
everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to 
murder. 

Easy Eddie was Capone's lawyer, and he was a very 
good one! 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 atrocities 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 little boy 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. 

Eddie wanted his son to rise above his own sordid life 
and be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his 
wealth and influence, there were two things Eddie 
couldn't give the boy - two things he had sacrificed 
to the Capone mob. He could not pass on to his beloved 
son a good name or a good example. 

One day, Easy Eddie made a difficult choice. He decided 
that giving his boy a good name was far more important 
than all the riches he could lavish on him. He had to 
rectify all the wrong he had done. He would go to the 
authorities and tell the truth about "Scar-face" Al 
Capone. That meant he would have to testify against 
The Mob, and he knew the cost would be great. But more 
than anything, he wanted to set an example for his son, 
restore his own integrity, and leave a good name to the 
boy. So he testified - and 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 that could be 
paid. 

What do these two stories have to do with one another? 

Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son. 

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West Coast: 760-945-5596

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