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Topic: True Stories (Read 157 times)

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True Stories
« on: Sep 13^th, 2004, 11:50am »

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STORY NUMBER ONE
Many years ago, Alfonse 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 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 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; that he couldn't pass on a good name and a good example. One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Alfonse
"Scarface" Capone.

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.
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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 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 blazing 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.

TRUE STORIES.

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nons55
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Re: True Stories
« Reply #1 on: Sep 13^th, 2004, 2:37pm »

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I've heard this before but I always found it interesting!

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Re: True Stories
« Reply #2 on: Sep 15^th, 2004, 4:35pm »

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Wow, that is so heart warming. Is this really true?

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luci
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Re: True Stories
« Reply #3 on: Sep 15^th, 2004, 5:23pm »

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NOTE: This email has also been sent to me in email. Since it is such a great story, I went to google, then to snopes and checke dit out, it is true, but there is more, read on...........................

We're not going to go over the fine points of this Paul Harvey "Rest of the Story"-like glurge and discuss which details are true and which are not. The piece contains the usual mixture of hyperbole, exaggeration, omissions, and errors mixed into a stock of facts. The more important point is what this piece purportedly teaches us.

The presentation offered here would have us believe that this is a tale of redemption; a little morality play that demonstrates the importance of recognizing the errors of one's ways, of atoning for one's misdeeds, of trying to do right and prevent one's sins from being visited on future generations. Those are all valuable lessons, but they have precious little to do with this story.

As described here, Edward O'Hare was nothing less than a corrupt lawyer and out-and-out hoodlum. Despite his having entered a profession in which he was expected, of all things, to uphold the law, he willingly broke it to enrich himself by engaging in a variety of unethical and illegal schemes in partnership with the most notorious gangster in American history, Al Capone. What's more, he served as Capone's attorney, aiding the mobster in setting up numerous illegal enterprises and helping to keep Capone and his cronies out of prison.

If "Easy Eddie" did eventually provide information that aided federal authorities in sending Capone to prison for income tax evasion, it was not because he had an attack of conscience, wanted to right the wrongs he'd done, or sought to teach his son Edward Jr. (known as "Butch") the value of integrity -- he did it because he could see the handwriting on the wall (i.e., Capone was going to be nailed soon with or without his assistance), and by doing the feds a favor, he could secure an appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis for his son (presumably at expense of other worthy candidates who lacked the advantage of having mob-connected lawyers for fathers).

Perhaps Edward O'Hare believed or knew he would be killed for what he had done; perhaps not. Either way, it was his son Butch who redeemed the family name through his wartime bravery and heroism, and the price he paid for that redemption was his life. None of that redemption was achieved through the actions of Edward Sr., save that the old man traded on some mob connections to move his son to the head of the line for Annapolis.

Do we think Easy Eddie "was able to pass the value of integrity on to his son"? Hell, no. Quite the opposite: He taught his son that if you're clever enough and sufficiently lacking in moral values you can live a life of wealth and privilege by victimizing others, and if your gravy train should ever derail you can always grab a few last ladlesful by ratting on your associates.

Butch O'Hare was suitably honored when the Chicago airport known as Orchard Depot was renamed O'Hare International in 1949. It's unfortunate that he and the airport have to share the O'Hare name with his criminal father.

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Re: True Stories
« Reply #4 on: Sep 16^th, 2004, 1:09pm »

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Well, thumbs-up still to Butch. :tup:

« Last Edit: Sep 16^th, 2004, 1:09pm by JP »

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