Troubles No More
09-19-2003, 05:51 AM
A friend forward this story to me..
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 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.
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 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.