*STORY ONE*
In the 1930s, Chicago essentially belonged to Al Capone. Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic, but for his involvement in everything: from bootlegging and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a highly skilled lawyer nicknamed “Easy Eddie.” Eddie’s legal maneuvering helped keep Capone out of prison.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well and provided him with a huge, fenced-in mansion. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mafia and didn’t care about the brutal crimes taking place around him, which he covered up.
However, Eddie had one soft spot: his son. He gave him everything—expensive clothes, cars, a good education. But despite his involvement in organized crime, Eddie wanted his son to be a better person than he was and tried to teach him the value of goodness. Despite his wealth and influence, there were things he couldn’t give his son: a good name / a good example.
So, one day, Easy Eddie made the big decision: he went to the authorities and told the truth about Al Capone, to clear his name, and to offer his son an example of integrity. He testified against the Mafia, even though he knew the cost would be high.
Indeed, within the year (1939), Easy Eddie’s life ended in a hail of bullets on a lonely Chicago street.
But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he could offer, at the highest price he could ever pay.
*STORY TWO*
Butch O’Hare was a fighter pilot in the South Pacific during World War II.
One day, when his entire squadron had been sent on a mission, he realized while in the air that someone had forgotten to fill his fuel tank, and he didn’t have enough fuel to complete his mission and return to his ship.
He was ordered to return to the aircraft carrier. As he was returning, he saw that the squadron of Japanese aircraft was heading toward the American fleet. The fighter planes were far away, and all the ships were defenseless. Without a thought for his own safety, risking his life and with little fuel remaining, he attacked the Japanese in an attempt to draw them away from the fleet. He managed to shoot down five fighters and force the Japanese squadron to change course. (February 20, 1942). A year later, Butch was killed in a dogfight at the age of 29.
Chicago honored the hero’s memory and named O’Hare Airport after him. If you find yourself at O’Hare International, you’ll see his statue and his Medal of Honor.
*WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE TWO STORIES?*
Butch O’Hare was the son of the lawyer “Easy Eddie.”
