Monday 4 March 2013

WOW, did not know that!


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. (Let's set the records straight, Capone
was Sicilian, not Italian.) 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."


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 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.

(Pretty cool, eh)



Now you know why Chicago airport got its name.
 
 
 
 
 
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