Louis Zamperini
Ethan Besselman
Louis "Louie" Zamperini is a survivor. He faced every challenge imaginable. He faced others in his Olympic career, as well as his warden in the concentration camp he was sent to. Louie faced the forces of nature as he was stranded on a life raft for over a month. He even faced himself when the PTSD hit him after the war. Louis Zamperini conquered the unconquerable.
Early Life
Louis Zamperini was born on January 26, 1917. Even though he was born in New York, Louie was raised in California. He ran track at Torrance High School, and even set the school record for twenty years to come. Louis continued to train and eventually made it to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. As said by Louis, "A minute of pain is worth a lifetime of glory" (Zamperini). He ended up coming in eighth place. With this, he went to college and graduated in 1940. This year was the same year Louie tried to get into the Olympics a second time, but World War two ended up taking place.
Louis in the Military
With the Olympics cancelled, Louie ended up enlisting in the Army. He was put into the Army Air Corps and was flying a plane when he crashed. The plane had a mechanic failure and plummeted into the ocean. Only Louie and one of his plane mates ended up surviving the 47-day life raft journey and making it to shore. This wasn't the end, though. Louis Zamperini ended up in enemy Japanese territory, where he was taken prisoner and subjected to particularly cruel torture by a man named "the Bird." After surviving this for two whole years, the war ended and he was released.
Modern Day
After returning from the war, Louis Zamperini suffered from serious Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. His illness was so bad that he turned to alcoholism and almost got a divorce with his wife. Louis was determined to get over his PTSD when he went to a Billy Graham crusade. This crusade changed him. It made Louie remember all of the promises he made to God while he was in the camp. Louis used this faith to help overcome his PTSD. He also learned to forgive his past tormentors. This act relieved stress and helped his illness. Thirdly, he decided to let go of his past and only think about his current life. But above all, Louie never lost hope. If one thing can be taken from the legacy of Louis Zamperini, it's to never lose hope. That aspect is what helped him most of all during his journey. He refused to give up hope.
Louis Zamperini tells his story
Sites Used
Works Cited
Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
"Overcoming Obstacles: How Louis Zamperini Remained 'Unbroken' - K12 - Learning Liftoff - Free Parenting, Education, and Homeschooling Resources." K12 Learning Liftoff Free Parenting Education and Homeschooling Resources. 09 Jan. 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.