Two true stories worth reading

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 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 him very well. Not only was the money big, but
Eddie got special dividends, as well. 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. But, 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.'

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 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 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, 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 H AVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?


Butch O'Hare was 'Easy Eddie's' son…

Good Story IMHO. You just never know some ones past or realize the greatness that still come from the decisions made in the past from just one other. Destiny is figured out so much later in many cases.

Wow...what great stories and an amazing connection!! Thanks You!

I didn't know the connect but I bet many Chicagoan's knew it.. ;)

Good stories.