Archi Alternative

Al “Scarface” Capone                       “Easy Eddie”                               Butch O’Hare

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I am planning a trip to Chicago. Never been there… Such a shame for me as an Architect! I live so close to it. I’ve traveled the world so extensively; have seen so many places; and never have been to one of the most important modern cities. Anyway, as I’m preparing to my trip by studying Chicago maps on the web I’m getting an email from some old friend. It is an amazing tale about… Chicago. It has nothing to do with the architecture though, rather with the Architecture of human souls. No author, no source link. So I took a liberty to adjust the narrative, it’s still a bit lengthy but please bear with me. You might like it at the end.

So both of these stories are true.

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First story

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. He 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 Capone’s 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. Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. 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. His young son had everything: clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite Eddie’s involvement with mafia, he tried to teach his boy right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth, there were things he couldn’t give his son; he couldn’t pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a decision 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. He knew that the cost would be great. Yet, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie’s life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But sure, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.

“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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Second story

World War II produced many heroes. One of them 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 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, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its 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 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. 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 Medal of Honour.

A year later Butch O’Hare was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WWII hero to fade. As a traveler you might arrive  to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago which is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

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Now you ask: so what do these stories have to do with each other?

It’s simple. Butch O’Hare was “Easy Eddie’s” son.

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P.S. I think, this is a very American story. Also I think that today we still have a lot of “Eddies” amongst the “banksters”. New Eddies are not ashamed though. Not trying to clear their names. Why should they? These days they got almighty government behind them (Al “Scarface” Capone is a small fry)…  And this I found…  kinda not very American. Am I wrong?

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So I’ve been to Chicago. It’s cool, it’s amazing, it’s crazy, it’s fantastic… in one word it’s magnificent.

Here are my funky pictures and emotional essay. I hope you enjoy my  “Chicago Jazz ” >>

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