gntbldr
03-14-2005, 04:10 PM
Here are two powerfully related stories. After you have read them,
you will see why they were passed on to share with you.
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 his 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 atrocities 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 the best of
everything: 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 and 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 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 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 were speeding their way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a mission, 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
pproaching 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.
you will see why they were passed on to share with you.
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 his 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 atrocities 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 the best of
everything: 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 and 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 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 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 were speeding their way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a mission, 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
pproaching 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.