Post by achebeautiful on Feb 4, 2007 14:14:15 GMT -5
"Al Capone and Butch OHare"
Two Stories
Story Number 1
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous
for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in
everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good
reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's 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, but, also, 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.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration
to the atrocity 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 him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man
than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he
couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.
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 "Scarface" Capone, clean up his 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.
So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely
Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he
had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay.
Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion,
and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read:
The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just
when the hands will stop at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon
be still.
Story Number 2
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 aircraft 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 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.
He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing in hopes of damaging
as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly.
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 gun camera mounted on his plane told the
tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet.
He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and, for that action, Butch became the
Navy's first Ace of WWII, and the first Naval Aviator to win the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.
His home town would not allow the memory of this WWII hero to fade, and
today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of
this great man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some
thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal
of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.
Two Stories
Story Number 1
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous
for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in
everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good
reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's 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, but, also, 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.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration
to the atrocity 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 him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man
than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he
couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.
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 "Scarface" Capone, clean up his 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.
So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely
Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he
had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay.
Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion,
and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read:
The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just
when the hands will stop at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon
be still.
Story Number 2
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 aircraft 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 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.
He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing in hopes of damaging
as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly.
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 gun camera mounted on his plane told the
tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet.
He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and, for that action, Butch became the
Navy's first Ace of WWII, and the first Naval Aviator to win the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.
His home town would not allow the memory of this WWII hero to fade, and
today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of
this great man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some
thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal
of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.