What’s in a name?

Tim Maguire

recently flew into Chicago, something that turned his blood cold. his tattered fighter limped back to USA, landing in O’Hare A squadron of Japanese bombers the carrier. Upon arrival he reported IInternational Airport. were speeding towards the American in and related the event surrounding fleet. The American fighters had all his return. The film from the camera Between terminal 1 and 2 is a memo- left on the mission and the fleet carrier mounted on his plane told the tale. It rial to Commander Butch was left pretty much defenceless. showed the extent of Butch’s daring O’Hare, after whom the airport was attempt to protect his fleet. He had Laying aside all thoughts of personal named. Alongside his statue is a destroyed five enemy bombers. For safety, he plunged into the formation medal and a plaque, acknowledging His bravery he was awarded the of Japanese planes. Wing-mount- him as the first Naval Aviator to win medal, and his name lives on to ed 50 calibre guns blazed as he the Congressional Medal of Honour. this day, with Chicago’s Interna- charged in, attacking one surprised tional Airport named after him. During the Second World War he enemy plane and then another. was a fighter pilot assigned to the Butch weaved in and out of the now Another name synonymous with the South Pacific. On February 20, 1942, broken formation and fired at as city of Chicago is Al Capone, a noto- Butch O’Hare’s squadron was sent many planes as possible until finally rious Mafia gangster. At that time, on a mission. After taking off and all his ammunition had been used up. Al Capone virtually owned the city. flying some distance, he looked at Not to be stopped, he continued the Capone wasn’t famous for anything his control panel and realised that assault. He dove at the planes, trying heroic. He was, however, notorious his plane had never been refuelled. to at least clip off a wing or tail, in for his involvement in illegal alcohol He did not have enough fuel to hopes of damaging as many enemy trade, prostitution and murder. complete the mission and get back planes as possible and rendering Easy Eddie was Capone’s lawyer to his ship. After radioing through his them unfit to fly. He was desperate to and for good reason. He was excel- predicament, his flight leader told do anything he could to keep them lent at what he did and kept Big Al him to return to the . from reaching the American ships. out of jail for many years. Capone Reluctantly he dropped out of forma- Eventually the exasperated Japanese showed his appreciation by paying tion and headed back towards had had enough of the crazy pilot him huge sums of money and perks the fleet. As he was returning to the and took off in another direction. like a family mansion that took up aircraft carrier Lexington, he saw Deeply relieved, Butch O’Hare and an entire city block. Yes, Eddie

18 - Face to Face | www.face2face.org.za lived the life of the Chicago mob Wear the name proudly How do we treat the title ‘Christian?’ and gave little consideration to Do we act as though all it means the evil that went on around him. Each of us carried the dirty name of is that we will go into his kingdom ‘Sinner’, and God gave his life for us when we die, but it has nothing to Sacrificed – a good name so that we too might cast aside the do with how we live? Did you know albatross around our neck. We are Eddie had a son that he loved dear- that according to the 2001 Census, God’s people, his dearly beloved ly. He saw to it that his young son almost 80% of SA citizens claim to be children and bear his name now. had the best of everything. Noth- Christian? But how many of them act We read in Acts 11:26 that the disci- ing was withheld, and, despite his like Christians? To a large number, ples were called Christians first at involvement with organized crime, to be a Christian – to bear the name Antioch. The term “Christian” means Eddie even tried to teach him right of Christ – means no more than “Christ-ones” or ‘little Christs’ As from wrong, and encouraged him being a Lions or Chiefs supporter! Christians, we all carry around the to rise above his own sordid life. He name of Christ wherever we go. If it meant to us what it was supposed wanted him to be a better man than to, then the divorce rate among he was. Yet, with all his wealth and 1 Peter 2:9-12: “But you are a chosen Christians wouldn’t be virtually as influence, there was something Eddie people, a royal priesthood, a holy high as the rest of the population. couldn’t give his son. Something nation, God’s special possession, Christians wouldn’t cheat on their Eddie had sacrificed to the Capone that you may declare the praises of taxes if we took seriously the name mob which he could not pass on to him who called you out of darkness we bear. Christians wouldn’t allow his well loved son: a good name. into his wonderful light. Once you pornography into their homes through were not a people, but now you One day, Easy Eddie reached a diffi- the internet or the TV if we real- are the people of God; once you cult decision. Offering his son a good ized the shame that brings on the had not received mercy, but now name was far more important than name of God. Christians wouldn’t you have received mercy. Dear all the riches he could pour out on harbour an unforgiving attitude and friends, I urge you, as foreigners and him. He had to rectify all the wrong bitterness toward one another if they exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, he had done. He would go to the truly knew that their forgiveness and which wage war against your soul. authorities and tell the truth about reconciliation would bring glory to Live such good lives among the ‘Scar-face’ Al Capone. He would God. Do we sometimes shame the pagans that, though they accuse try to clean up his tarnished name name of God by the way we live?! you of doing wrong, they may and offer his son some semblance see your good deeds and glori- 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether of integrity. To do this he had to testi- fy God on the day he visits us.” you eat or drink or whatever you fy against The Mob, and he knew do, do it all for the glory of God.” that the cost would be great. We are the people of God. Wherever we go and whatever we do reflects If we pray “Our Father who art in On Wednesday, November 8, 1939, back on God and how the world Heaven, hallowed be thy name...” after testifying, Easy Eddie was shot thinks of him. When those people shouldn’t we at least be doing all and killed. He was 46 years old, at Antioch were called Christians, we can to bring that glory to him? and had given his son the greatest they wore the name proudly. The gift he had to offer at the great- Your name is no longer ‘Sinner’, but reason they were called ‘Christians’ est price he would ever pay. ‘Christian’, son or daughter of the is because they lived like Christ – they Most High God. Your Father gave I know what you’re probably think- were different. It was an honour and it to you, and he gave all he had ing; what do these two stories a responsibility and certainly not so you could carry his name. In the have to do with one another? something which was taken lightly. same way that Butch O’Hare carried One reason it wasn’t taken lightly, was his name, do the same and make Well, you see, Easy Eddie’s real that at various times in the last two name was Edward Joseph your Daddy proud, giving all the thousand years, many had to sacri- Glory and honour back to him. O’Hare, Butch O’Hare’s father. fice their lives for bearing that name.

Butch O’Hare USS Lexington Al Capone

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