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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 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 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
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. 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
(not confirmed by us, but very interesting!)
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