Story Number
One
Many years ago, Al
Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't so much famous as he was
infamous. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from
bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone did not act
alone. He had many willing accomplices.
One of those accomplices was his 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 Easy Eddie 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 clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld.
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.
This continued to weigh
heavily on Eddie until one day Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie
decided to atone for 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 give his son the two things he was unable to
provide, a good example and a good name.
To do this, he would
have to testify against The Mob. He knew that the cost would be great and he
was willing to pay it for the sake of his son. 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 Number Two
World War II produced
many heroes. One such hero 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
ordered him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation
and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to
the Lexington, 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 the Japanese fighters.
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 pilot 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 W.W.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 home town would not allow the
memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare International 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.
Be inspired and have a
great day.
