|
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 manoeuvring
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 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 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 could
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.';
Many years later ...........
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 defenceless.
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
dived into the formation of Japanese planes.
Wing-mounted 50 calibre'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 dived 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 Honour.
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 What Do These Two Stories Have To Do With Each
Other?
Butch O'Hare was 'Easy Eddie's' son.
|
