[Rhodes22-list] Aviation History

[Brad Haslett]

This story is making the rounds on the net once again.  The first story has
been embellished a bit - "Easy Eddy" turned state's evidence to save his
arse, not because of some sudden urge to "come clean". BTW, do you know who
finally got Capone?  It was the IRS and they threw him in the slammer here
in Memphis. The second part of the story 100% true.  Brad

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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 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 TheMob,
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.

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 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.