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. 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 WWII, 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. 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 WWII, 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.
