O'Hare International

A Segunda Guerra Mundial produziu inúmeros heróis. Um deles era o Tenente Comandante Butch O’Hare. Ele era um piloto de caça designado a trabalhar no porta-aviões Lexington no Pacífico Sul. Certo dia, sua esquadrilha foi enviada em uma missão. Após a decolagem, ele percebeu que haviam esquecido de abastecer sua aeronave. Ele não teria combustível para completar sua missão e retornar ao porta-aviões. O líder da esquadrilha lhe ordenou que retornasse. Contra sua vontade, saiu da formação e iniciou seu retorno à sua armada. Enquanto retornava, viu algo que “gelou seu sangue”. Uma esquadrilha de bombardeiros japoneses voando rumo à armada americana. Seus companheiros haviam desaparecido e a armada estava praticamente indefesa. Não havia tempo de chamar seus companheiros de volta, tampouco de comunicar à base sobre a ameaça.
Só havia uma coisa a ser feita: desviá-los da rota da armada. Renunciando sua própria segurança, mergulhou na formação japonesa e começou a atirar com sua metralhadora calibre 50 montada na asa de seu avião, surpreendendo a esquadrilha inimiga. Atirou em tantos aviões quanto possível, até sua munição acabar.
Audaciosamente, continuou o ataque: mergulhou nos aviões inimigos tentando danificar as asas e empenagem dos aviões inimigos tanto quanto possível tentando impossibilitá-los de continuar voando. Fez o possível para mantê-los longe dos navios americanos. Desesperados, os japoneses fugiram em outra direção.
Aliviado, Butch aterrissou e relatou o fato. A câmera montada em seu avião provou o relato. Mostrou o empenho de Butch em proteger sua armada. Butch havia destruído 5 bombardeiros japoneses. Este fato ocorreu no dia 20 de Fevereiro de 1942 e, por esse ato, foi o primeiro Az aviador americano a receber uma medalha de Honra ao Mérito. 1 ano mais tarde, aos 29 anos de idade, Butch morreu em combate. Sua cidade natal não permitiria que Butch fosse esquecido na história. Hoje, o aeroporto de Chicago, O’Hare International foi nomeado como um tributo à coragem deste grande homem.
A próxima vez que você for à Chicago, não deixe de visitar o memorial com sua estátua e medalha de honra ao mérito, que fica entre os terminais 1 e 2 deste aeroporto.
Ah! Butch O'Hare era o filho do Easy Eddie.
Plante hoje. Colha pela eternidade.
A boa reputação vale mais que grandes riquezas... Provérbios 22:1

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 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 hometown 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.
By the way, Butch O'Hare was the son of Easy Eddie.
Plant Today, Reap for Eternity.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches... Prov. 22:1