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This is a pretty cool story even if it is twisted a little to illustrate morality and the fact tweeked a little. It is basicly true aside from motive.

Two Stories BOTH TRUE - and 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. 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 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.

That was pretty cool...
I knew who Easy Eddie was, but never new about his son.

That was a good story, Dog. I had no idea of any of that. I enjoyed the read and thanks for sharing.

When I started reading this I was thinking "yeah yeah... ho hum. Yay for reader's digest". When I got the end I'd changed to "Hey whattya know, that's really cool." Thanks for posting it.

But, but.....I can almost sense a pending "snopes.com" alert.

jh

Yep! True story.

Old Mike from Chicago

I searched Snopes before I posted it this time since it was such a good story. It is for the most part true. The facts are true the motives are suspect. As well as they say his sons death may have been due to friendly fire.

Cool story about how Chicago's O'Hare Airport got it name there, Ian!!! VERY cool!!!

(but I'll bet ya DIDN'T know that the airport code of "LAX" was given to Los Angeles Int'l Airport because the security there is sometimes found to be, let's say, "less than adequate"!!!)

I'm not sure i even believe snopes.com is true.

And the grandson is....Fast Eddie????

good read.

Very fun read. Kind of like the late Paul Harvey's, "the rest of the story". Think I'll pass this story on!

Good story, Thanks Ian