Never thought Id see the day, but Springstangs produced something worth the read...Kinda long, but worth the 4 minutes it actually takes.

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 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. Yet, 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.


Long but worth the read.

 

wow that was pretty good, best thing ive read in years, i dont read too often though

 

That was freekin cool. Where did you find that story?

 

Of all people, Springstangs posted it on another forum.

 

what forum was it???

 

I think it was www.modularpowerhouse.com