jackd
04-08-2005, 05:03 AM
STORY NUMBER ONE
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 good, 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 atrocities 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 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 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 nor could he set a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted
to rectify the 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 would 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 good, 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 atrocities 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 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 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 nor could he set a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted
to rectify the 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 would 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 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 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 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 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 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.