HERE ARE TWO STORIES….
STORY 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
manoeuvring 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 TWO
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 gage 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 defenceless. 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.
H e 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 calibre'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 or tail 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 W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the
Medal of Honour.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.
His home town would not allow the memory of this WW - II 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 Honour. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
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. .Butch O'Hare was 'Easy Eddie's' son....
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