Friday, March 10, 2017
Irish History Report for March 2017
Irish Historian’s Report
Division One is honored to share Irish History articles provided by The National Historian of The Ancient Order of Hibernians
Here are two stories and both are absolutely true – and worth reading! The first began on5 September 1893 when a son was born in St. Louis , MO Chicago Holly Hills
The second O’Hare story occurred years later during World War II – a war that produced many heroes. One such was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. Heart-to-heart talks with his father, who was fascinated with flying and had even hitched a ride in Charles Lindbergh's mail plane, inspired Butch to become a Navy pilot. A friend of his father’s, Congressman John J. Cochran, had appointed Butch to the U.S. Naval Academy. He became a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrierLexington 20 February, 1942 , his squadron was sent on a mission. Once airborne, his saw that his crew chief had forgotten to top off his tank. Without enough fuel to complete the mission and return, his flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back. On his return he saw something that turned his blood cold – a squadron of Japanese ‘Betty’ bombers speeding toward the American fleet.
A TALE OF TWO O’HARES
By Mike McCormack
Here are two stories and both are absolutely true – and worth reading! The first began on
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| Al Capone with "Easy" Eddie O'Hare |
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago IRS and it was with his help that the government convicted and imprisoned Capone for income tax evasion. IRS agent Frank J. Wilson called Eddie one of the best undercover men I have ever known. Eddie testified against Capone, knowing that he was putting himself in harm’s way. In 1939, a week before Capone was released from Alcatraz ; O'Hare was driving home in his black 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr coupe. At the intersection of Ogden and Rockwell, two shotgun-wielding gunmen in a dark sedan drove alongside and fired a volley into his car. O'Hare was killed instantly. He died knowing that he had given his son the greatest gift he could offer – integrity – at the greatest price he could pay. Among his final effects, Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a religious medallion and a poem that 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.'"
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| New Reports of the Murder of Eddie O'Hare |
The second O’Hare story occurred years later during World War II – a war that produced many heroes. One such was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. Heart-to-heart talks with his father, who was fascinated with flying and had even hitched a ride in Charles Lindbergh's mail plane, inspired Butch to become a Navy pilot. A friend of his father’s, Congressman John J. Cochran, had appointed Butch to the U.S. Naval Academy. He became a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier
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| Eddie "Butch" O'Hare in his F4 Wildcat Fighter Plane |
The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless. Butch couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time, nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from their course. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese bombers with wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazing, attacking one surprised enemy plane after another. He wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the bombers, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many of them as possible, rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction trying to flee this ‘crazy’ American pilot. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered Grumman F-4F Wildcat fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon reporting in, he related the events surrounding his return. The film from the gun-mounted camera on his plane verified the tale. It showed the extent of his daring attempt to protect the fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft and damaged another. For his heroism Butch O’Hare became the Navy's first Ace of WWII and the first Naval Aviator to be awarded the Medal of Honor by Congress.
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| Edward O'Hare receives the Medal of Honor from President Roosevelt |
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. After the war, on April 19, 1947, 70 years ago this month, Col. Robert McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, proposed that Chicago's new airport be named for the naval hero, who had often visited his father in their city. On September 17, 1949 , O'Hare Airport was dedicated to Edward H. "Butch" O'Hare. So, the next time you find yourself at Chicago
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| The Edward "Butch" O'Hare Memorial at O'Hare Airport in Chicago |
Now, what do these two O’Hares have in common?
Butch was 'Easy Eddie's' son! (Pretty cool, eh!)
