Easy Eddie O’Hare’s criminal dealings with infamous crime boss Al Capone ultimately ended in his murder. But Eddie’s son, Butch, became a flying ace who rewrote his family’s legacy.
WikimediaEdward “ Butch ” O’Hare , his father Edward “ Easy Eddie ” O’Hare , and Al Capone .
Edward J. O’Hare , commonly know as Easy Eddie , helped nab notorious mobster Al Capone at his own expense . The ambitious man had hope to egest on his lifestyle to his son , Edward “ Butch ” O’Hare , who afterwards became a vanish champion in World War II . Like his father , Butch was also a human race of action . But his activeness proved noble than his father ’s and managed to rewrite his family ’s legacy from one of criminal offense to one of virtuosity .
Though not from Chicago , their lives had become inextricably tie to the city — and the offense boss who ran it . That metropolis , in turn , honored their saving bequest with the assignment of the Chicago O’Hare International Airport .
WikimediaEdward “Butch” O’Hare, his father Edward “Easy Eddie” O’Hare, and Al Capone.
The Story Of Easy Eddie
Getty ImagesEdward J. O’Hare .
Before he struck it racy as an infamous attorney and wealthy president of the Sportsman ’s Park racetrack , Edward J. O’Hare — who was afterward know to his unsavory business associates as Easy Eddie — was just an challenging Irish businessman fromSt . Louis , Missouri .
He married a untried woman named Selma Lauth when he was just 19 , and the couple had two daughters , Patricia and Marilyn , and one son , Edward . His career had undeniablyhumble beginningsas he raised his family in an apartment above his father - in - law ’s Soulard grocery storage .
Getty ImagesEdward J. O’Hare.
Ever industrious , O’Hare found the time to take classes and fall out the Missouri bar exam while he sent his boy to Western Military Academy in Alton . O’Hare joined a legal philosophy business firm and continued to expand his business interests . But O’Hare did n’t really hit it big until he met Owen Patrick Smith , the commissioner of the International Greyhound Racing Association .
Smith had in the beginning charter Easy Eddie O’Hare to get a letters patent licence for a mechanical coney that he used to entice the dogs to race around the track , which was remunerative in itself . When Smith died concisely after , O’Hare purchased the patent rights from Smith ’s widow . With his newfound earnings , O’Hare moved his household to a nicer region . Then he and Selma disjoint in 1927 and O’Hare film their three tyke and moved to Chicago .
Crime bosses in 1930 ’s Chicago operated like business insurers and so when O’Hare sought to countersink up shop class there , none other than notorious crime boss Al Capone collaborated with him on business ventures . By 1931 , Capone and O’Hare had open and were operating Canis familiaris tracks in Chicago , Miami , and Boston . O’Hare continued to rake it in , but after a while , he began to pall of work with Capone and his lawless mob .
Getty ImagesThe opening of the new track in Sportsman’s Park. Mayor Joseph G. Cerny of Cicero and Mayor Anton Cermak of Chicago join Edward J. O’Hare.
Around the same time , Edward “ Butch ” O’Hare was in the process of applying to the Naval Academy and would require the backing of a representative so as to be accepted . O’Hare was well - connected , but he revere to harm his son ’s reputation via his illegal dealing , and so by some accounts , this was the accelerator which lead O’Hare to turn aside from — and finally rick in — Al Capone .
Getty ImagesThe opening of the new rail in Sportsman ’s Park . Mayor Joseph G. Cerny of Cicero and Mayor Anton Cermak of Chicago unite Edward J. O’Hare .
O’Hare adjoin a former St. Louis colleague , a reporter named John Rogers , who put him in mite with the Internal Revenue Service . O’Hare turned over a series of Capone ’s fiscal records which gave public prosecutor the evidence they require to in conclusion arrest and convict the long seek after outlaw of tax evasion . Capone was consequently imprisoned in Alcatraz from August 1933 to January 1939 .
Getty ImagesEdward J. O’Hare pictured slumped at the wheel of his car after he was shot to death in 1939.
O’Hare ’s “ contribution to the investigation of Al Capone ought to be put in right perspective , and without his cooperation , there never would have been a case against Capone , ” ex - Chicago bull and unofficial historiographer Ed Burke report .
Easy Eddie O’Hare also managed to help his boy enter the Naval Academy successfully .
But O’Hare ’s change of meat may quite possibly have cost him his life . On his elbow room home from a racetrack on November 8th , 1939 , O’Hare was shoot by two men in a neighboring cable car . They were most likely strike men , acting out of revenge for putting Capone away , although this was never proven and no stop for Easy Eddie O’Hare ’s murder were = = = made .
Wikimedia CommonsButch O’Hare in his plane, circa 1942.
Getty ImagesEdward J. O’Hare pictured slumped at the wheel of his car after he was shoot to death in 1939 .
The Story Of Butch O’Hare
Edward “ Butch ” O’Hare may have had an even more remarkable life history than his founder . Although ab initio the senior O’Hare feared that his son miss ambition , Butch was subsequently sent to the Western Military after he was capture lazing on the lounge eating pastry .
He was grant to come back home in 1939 for the death of his Fatherhood .
Wikimedia CommonsButch O’Hare in his plane , circa 1942 .
Wikimedia CommonsButch O’Hare shakes hands with President Roosevelt as he receives his medal of honor.
In July 1941 , Butch O’Hare play his married woman . He proposed the first time they met and six weeks later on they get married . But Butch was dispatched curtly after Pearl Harbor was bomb . He and his new Saint Brigid set sail to Hawaii together , albeit in separate ships , for their honeymoon . Butch was then attribute to the aircraft letter carrier USS Lexington in the water system northerly of Papua New Guinea .
On February . 20 , 1942 , his crew received card that the Japanese were ship into Rabaul . The USS Lexington , led by Lieutenant Commander John Thach , steer toward Rabaul to make a strike at the Japanese , but they were discovered en itinerary by an enemy Snooper . The Snooper relayed their position back to the Japanese , and , by that afternoon , multiple Japanese bombers were upon them .
Thach top an interception , but in the meantime , more Nipponese poor boy point towards them . Butch and his wingman , Duff Dufilho , launched from the Lexington to attempt to direct off the 2d wave .
Wikimedia CommonsA replica of Butch O’Hare’s aircraft on display in Terminal 2 of the Chicago O’Hare airport.
Wikimedia CommonsButch O’Hare shakes hands with President Roosevelt as he get his ribbon of pureness .
It soon became apparent that no other pilot program were close enough to attend to in the fight . Rather than head back , Butch go on to bug them alone . prove singular marksmanship , he single - handedly downed five Japanese poor boy , attacking them until he ran out of ammo .
He had used onlysixty rounds of ammofor every bomber he had destruct . Luckily by this time , the other pilot had caught up to him , and he was able to shoot down his plane with minimum damage .
His act of fearlessness was credited with save the USS Lexington , and he was in person congratulate by President Roosevelt for his courage during a White House observance where he was present the Medal of Honor .
Wikimedia CommonsA replica of Butch O’Hare ’s aircraft on exhibit in Terminal 2 of the Chicago O’Hare airport .
He thus became the first naval recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II . Although Butch O’Hare had never hold up in Chicago himself , he had his founder ’s Chicago connection , and he was further commended in 1949 when the Orchard Depot Airport in Chicago was rename the O’Hare International Airport in his honor . A model of the plane he flew during World War II remain on exhibit in Terminal 2 at the drome , serve as a tribute of his inspection and repair to his land .
His remarkable courageousness and selflessness wait on as redemption for his Father of the Church less - than - imposing past .
After this look at father and son duet of Easy Eddie and Butch O’Hare , tick outEmma Darwin , the incestuous Bridget to the don of evolution . Then , check out these 25 astoundingAl Capone facts .
