Model Forum / General / Models / August 2006

I am a big conservative radio listener and caller at times.  I also
like to know little anicdotes and under workings of life.  I guess this
is why I no longer believe in our political systems ... 'the more you
know, the more it hurts' - My Quote.

Anyway, I came across the following story, that you might find VERY
interesting.   For those of you who live in the midwest, or travel
there by plane, you might want to check out the location described at
the end of the story.  I know I WILL!

And now, the rest of the story...

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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 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 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 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 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.