This blog is about the entrants in the year 1960, to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ceylon, Colombo. The email address for communications is, 1960batch@gmail.com. Please BOOKMARK this page for easier access later.Photo is the entrance porch of the old General Hospital, Colombo, still in existence. Please use the search box below to look for your requirement.
Monday, May 23, 2016
O'Hare Airport, Chicago, USA.
Tale of two stories.
Dramatic.
jksw
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 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.. He was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal manoeuvring kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie 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 Chicago city block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocities that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot - a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars and a good education. Price was no object.
And, 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 - a good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. He wanted 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 integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.
So, he testified.
Within the year Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street . In his pockets were a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.
The poem 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."
STORY NUMBER TWO
World War II produced many heroes. One such man 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 to the mother ship 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 away on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenceless. 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 dived into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 calibres 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 dived at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in the hope of damaging as many as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.
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 related the events 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 destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of WWII, and the first naval aviator to win the Medal of Honour.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this hero to fade, and today O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to his courage.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honour. It is located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Many years ago Al Capone virtually owned Chicago . Capone 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.. He was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal manoeuvring kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie 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 Chicago city block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocities that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot - a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars and a good education. Price was no object.
And, 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 - a good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. He wanted 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 integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.
So, he testified.
Within the year Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street . In his pockets were a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.
The poem 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."
STORY NUMBER TWO
World War II produced many heroes. One such man 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 to the mother ship 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 away on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenceless. 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 dived into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 calibres 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 dived at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in the hope of damaging as many as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.
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 related the events 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 destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of WWII, and the first naval aviator to win the Medal of Honour.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this hero to fade, and today O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to his courage.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honour. It is located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.
Story of the Indian Institute of Science
email forwarded by Lakshman Karalliedde
Gyan (Knowledge):
Jamshedji
Nusserwanji Tata was once, traveling to Germany. As he stood there, at the door
of his First Class Cabin in the Steamliner, he noticed a lot of activity on the
lower decks of the Ship.
On
inquiring, he learned that a great Indian Saint, Shri Swami Vivekananda, was on
board the same ship. Out of genuine respect and curiosity, J.N. Tata decided to
pay a visit to the great saint.
Swami
Vivekananda had, of course, heard about the respected industrialist. As the
conversation grew J.N. Tata explained that he was on his way to Germany.
"I have with me sacks of soil: From various parts of India. I am taking
these samples of soil to Germany. I wish to know if Iron can be extracted
profitably from any of these districts." said J.N. Tata to the Saint.
To
which Swami Vivekananda replied, "Well, Sir, Even if these sacks contain
Iron-rich soil, do you honestly believe that the Germans will tell you the
TRUTH??? You must understand that No / NONE of the European Nations wish to see
a Strong / Steel-Rich / Economically Independent India. The soil is probably
rich in Iron-ore but the sad truth is all you will get from your inquiries
across Europe is Disbelief and Pessimistic reactions."
Needless
to say, having interacted with several Europeans J.N. Tata knew this to be
true. Swami Vivekananda continued, "Why don't you start an excellent /
up-to-date Research Facility and College here in India??? Why don't you train
some good Indian Youngsters to identify soil and conduct these tests and find
ways of profitably extracting metals??? It may seem like a wasteful; burdensome
expenditure right now, But in the long run - It will save you many trips to
Europe and you can have the assurance of knowing the Truth quickly - rather
than taking multiple opinions due to Doubt".
As he
could clearly sense J.N. Tata's mood was in acquiescence, he further
elaborated, "Seek an audience with the Maharaja of Mysore H.R.H. Wodeyar.
Though a subordinate of the British, he will definitely help you in every way
he can. H.R.H. Wodeyar has been generous enough to sponsor my own trip to
Chicago to attend the Parliament of Religions".
As soon
as he returned to India, J.N. Tata headed straight for Mysore. And indeed,
H.R.H. Chamraja Wodeyar did Not disappoint him. The King granted 370 acres of
land for the setting up of the Research Facility and College that J.N. Tata had
envisioned and it was named, THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE.
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