Louie Zamperini
Louie Zamperini was born on January 26, 1917. He has a had two books wrote about him titled “Unbroken”. As a kid in highschool he joined the track team. He trained constantly and soon became a star on the track. Quickly he was nicknamed the “Torrance Tornado” because of his amazing running ability. With the 1936 olympics in Berlin not too far ahead and in his sight, Louie started training for the 1500 meter. Louie thought that what he was suppose to do was become an olympic runner. He was determined to do and and everyone knew it was very possible for him. “All day, everyday, he lived and breathed the 1,500 meters and Berlin.” (pg 22 of “Unbroken”) Louie’s american dream was to run in the 1,500 meter in Berlin. He knew that that’s what he was suppose to do. In the olympic trials Louie placed second by just hair but would still go to the Olympics in Berlin. In the olympics Louie didn’t win although he ran the fastest last lap ever recorded at 56 seconds. After the olympics he set his sights on the next Olympics.
Although when World War II started he joined the war. His plane went down about 50 miles away from the Hawaii coast. Louie and one other soldier from his plane survived the incident. They survived 47 days at sea in a small life raft. They were picked up by the Japanese and were taken as prisoners of war. They were treated accordingly as prisoners of war. Louie was often beaten and treated extremely harshly. Louie survived through the war unbroken by the plane crash, 47 days starving at sea, and then a very horrendous prisoner of war camp. (This summary is very brief and doesn’t portray all of the horrific things that Louie was put through as a prisoner of war and a soldier.)
Although when World War II started he joined the war. His plane went down about 50 miles away from the Hawaii coast. Louie and one other soldier from his plane survived the incident. They survived 47 days at sea in a small life raft. They were picked up by the Japanese and were taken as prisoners of war. They were treated accordingly as prisoners of war. Louie was often beaten and treated extremely harshly. Louie survived through the war unbroken by the plane crash, 47 days starving at sea, and then a very horrendous prisoner of war camp. (This summary is very brief and doesn’t portray all of the horrific things that Louie was put through as a prisoner of war and a soldier.)