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Medal of Honor recipient Edward “Butch” O’Hare, Easy Eddie O'Hare, Al Capone

The Clock Will Soon Be Still



Seventy years ago, Medal of Honor recipient Edward “Butch” O’Hare was a lieutenant commander aboard the aircraft carrier Lexington. On February 20, 1942, he was piloting his beloved F4F Wildcat, “Felix The Cat,” when he and his wingman realized they were the only fighters available to defend against a wave of Japanese bombers intent on destroying their ship.
Setting aside concerns for personal safety, O’Hare surprised the enemy pilots by diving right in among them. When his ammunition ran out, he tried ramming some of them. Finally, the Japanese pilots could take no more of the fighter’s deadly harassment, and fled. Somehow, O’Hare landed the tattered Wildcat. A gun-mounted camera confirmed that he destroyed five Japanese bombers. His marksmanship was so accurate that he averaged only ninety rounds per bomber downed. A year later, O’Hare volunteered to lead a mission against Japanese bombers who, realizing they would never get at their targets in daytime, began attacking at night. For the brave pilot, the clock of life would soon be still. Apparently, a lucky shot from a Japanese gunner disabled his aircraft or killed him instantly. His body was never found. As a tribute to the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country, the city of Chicago named O’Hare International Airport after him.

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Butch O’Hare lived and died honorably. However, his father lived most of his life dishonorably, but because he loved his son above all else, eventually made the choice to pass on to Butch a legacy of honor and courage. Known as “Easy Eddie” by mobsters because he could always keep them out of jail with apparent ease, O’Hare was especially useful to the city’s most notorious gangster, Al “Scarface” Capone, who made untold millions bootlegging whiskey, controlling prostitution, and murdering rivals. Capone made sure Easy Eddie’s lifestyle was affluent — even setting him up in a mansion covering most of a city block. But no amount of wealth could blind O’Hare to the horrible crimes going on all around him. He was tortured by the reality that he was contributing to the atrocities that made front-page headlines almost daily. He didn’t want to be remembered as a dishonorable father who protected dishonorable men, and for his son’s sake, determined not to let that happen. His testimony against Capone led to a tax-evasion conviction and years of confinement in Alcatraz. For Easy Eddie, the clock of life would soon be still. He died in a blaze of mobster gunfire shortly before Al Capone’s release from prison. Like his son would do four years later, the senior O’Hare made the ultimate sacrifice for what he knew was right. A short poem found in his pocket confirmed this decision: 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 will soon be still.


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Jimmy Reed -- Bio and Archives

Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.

This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.

Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).


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