The O’Hare Legacy: From Mob Lawyer to Medal of Honor Hero

On this episode of Our American Stories, Edward “Easy” O’Hare built his fortune inside Al Capone’s empire. His legal skill kept Capone free and made Eddie one of the most powerful men in Chicago. He gave his son, Butch, every advantage money could buy, but knew that his name carried a stain he could not wash away.

When the weight of it became too heavy, Eddie turned against Capone. He worked with federal agents, revealing what he knew about the mob’s inner circle. A year later, he was shot to death on a Chicago street. His choice had cost him everything but left his son with the one thing he had never been able to give before: honor.

Years later, Butch O’Hare became a Navy pilot during World War II. When Japanese bombers closed in on the American fleet in 1942, he was the only one in range to fight them off. His courage earned him the Medal of Honor and a place in history.

The name O’Hare now belongs to both men: a father who chose conscience over comfort and a son who proved that courage can redeem almost anything.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
This is Lee Habib and this is our American stories.
In today's story, it comes to us from a great
friend of the show, Bob Crother, bringing us an illustrious
American tale that begins with the Chicago Mob in the
nineteen twenties and ends with a heroic feet by a
man who was born in nineteen fourteen. Take it away, Bob.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Let me tell you two stories about two men who
come from my town. Chicago. 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 and everything

(00:51):
from bootleg booze and prostitution to murder. Capone had a
lawyer named 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

(01:13):
very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie
got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied
a fenced in mansion with living help and all 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

(01:37):
to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did
have one soft spot, however, He had a son that
he loved dearly. Eddie sought 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

(01:58):
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 that he couldn't pass on, a good
name and a good example. One day, Easy Eddie reached

(02:20):
a difficult decision. He decided he'd go to the authorities
and tell the truth about Al Scarface's capone. Some say
he did it to save himself. Others believe it was
to clean up his tarnished name and offer his son
some semblance of integrity. Maybe it was both. He testified

(02:41):
against the mob, and he knew that the cost could
be great. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in
a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But
he may have given his son the greatest gift he
could offer, at the greatest price he would ever pay.

(03:04):
Story number two. World War II produced many heroes. One
such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Haire. 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

(03:26):
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.
He was returning to the mothership when he saw something

(03:48):
that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese aircraft
was speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American
fighters were born on a 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

(04:08):
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 fifty
calibers blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprise enemy

(04:29):
plane and then another. Bush wove in and out of
the now broken formation and fired at as many planes
as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Ungaunted,
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

(04:52):
to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in
another direction. 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

(05:16):
gun camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It
showed the extent of Butcher's daring attempt to protect his fleet.
He had, in fact destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took
place on February twentieth, nineteen forty two, and for that action,
Butch became the Navy's first ace of World War Two,

(05:40):
and the first naval aviator to win the Congressional Medal of.

Speaker 3 (05:43):
Honor for heroism and Extraordinary achievement innario flight or distinguished
service as pilot of an airplane of a bombing squad.
His courageous actions were in keeping with the highest tradition.

Speaker 2 (06:03):
A year later, Butch was killed in ara of combat
at the age of twenty nine. His hometown would not
allow the memory of this World War II hero to fade.
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

(06:25):
visiting Butcher's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor.
It's located between terminals one and two. So what the
hell do these two stories have to do with each other?
Butch O'Hare was easy Eddie's.

Speaker 1 (06:42):
Son, And a special thanks to Bob brother for giving
us that story in sharing it. And if you've got
stories like that, send them our way. And by the way,
what is a reputation worth? And to have all that
wealth and have all that privilege and to have nothing
to show for it, and if anything, really awful things

(07:04):
to show for it and what a sacrifice the dad made.
Did he do it for honor, did he do it
for other reasons? Who knows, but let's just err on
the side of possibly the honor and doing the right
thing for his family. Put your Hair's story here on
Our American Stories. Plead habibe here again, and I'd like

(07:30):
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(07:55):
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