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 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 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 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; that he couldn't pass on a good name and 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 would ever pay.
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 and
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 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 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 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; that he couldn't pass on a good name and 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 would ever pay.
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 and
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.
