Author Unknown
Two
True Stories:
Story
#1 Easy Eddie
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 Capone's 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, as well. For instance,
he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all 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 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
#2 Butch O’Hare
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 was speeding its 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, 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 events 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 World War II, and the first Naval Aviator to win
the Medal of honor.
A
year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His hometown
would not allow the memory of this World War 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.
What
do these stories have to do with one another?
Butch
O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.
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