Did Easy Eddie fly a KR? Am I missing something here? Besides, this is a very old story on the internet.
Ron Freiberger mailto: rfreiber...@swfla.rr.com -----Original Message----- From: krnet-boun...@mylist.net [mailto:krnet-boun...@mylist.net] On Behalf Of Ron Eason Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 7:21 PM To: KRnet Subject: KR>Fw: Two True Stories Interesting story about aviation history. > Here's a true story I'll bet you haven't heard yet. > > 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. 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. > > 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 neglected 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 right 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... > > > > _______________________________________________ see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html
