Louis Zamperini

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Brianna Kulick Senior Division Historical Paper Paper Length: 1932 words

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Louis Zamperini was a remarkable World War II veteran. He endured many struggles and many experiences throughout his life. Through all his hardships and challenges he stayed strong. Zamperini’s will to survive and not let anyone bring ​ him down, made him stronger as a person. When Zamperini was a child, he was born into a Italian family. He was born in Olean, New York, on January 26, 1917. Zamperini had two younger sisters and one older brother. In the early 1920s, Zamperini and his family moved to Torrance, California. At this new location he became the town’s trouble maker. Zamperini’s family was convinced that he was going to end up in prison for all the things he did. According to History.com, Zamperini was a “A smoker at age 5 and a drinker ​ by 8” (Andrews). This shows that he was known as the delinquent of Torrance, ​ California. One example of how Zamperini got out of trouble was when he entered highschool. History.com states that “He finally abandoned his life of petty crime in ​ high school, when a group of girls charmed him into joining the school’s track team.” (Andrews) This is an example of why Zamperini ditched his life of crime to start running. His success began on May 19, 1934, when he got 4:21.2 on the mile ​ at Memorial Coliseum. Another example of how Zamperini broke ​ ​ barriers in history, is when he broke the national high school record of a four minute mile. His record was withheld until about 20 years later. History.com says that, “Glenn Cunningham (former world record holder) tapped him to be “the next ​ mile champion” in 1938.”(Andrews.) This shows that even world-wide known people began to believe in him. And because of this his running profile grew, and he was nicknamed the “Torrance Tornado”. Soon after graduating from Torrance, California high school, he began training for the 1936 Olympics in , Germany. He qualified for the 1936 ​ Olympics when he tied the world record holder for the fastest time in the 5000 meter relay, , at 14:46.8. Zamperini made it too Berlin, and “He finished ​ eighth in his race and won over the crowd by laying down one of the fastest final

2 laps in the history of the event.” states History.com. This shows that he was truly meant to be in the Olympics. While in Germany he also met with , who shook hands with Zamperini and congratulated him, as “The boy with the fast finish.” Once Zamperini departed Germany he went back to Torrance, California. During World War II, Zamperini decided to enlist in the Army Air Corps’ 372nd Bomb squad. He served as a B-24 Liberator bombardier. According to History.com “He flew several missions including a famous December 1942 air raid on Wake Island” This shows that he was an important role in many missions. While on a bomb run with his crew on the way to , Japanese air-crafts ambushed Zamperini and his crew.On this specific assignment, Zamperini and his ​ team suffered one casualty and almost everyone on the plane was wounded.”Their plane endured 600 holes from enemy gunfire and shrapnel” states U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This is an example of how avoided death, and survived something a normal person couldn't and how he broke through barriers. On May 27, 1943 Zamperini’s life would change forever. On this day Zamperini and his crew headed out on a search and rescue mission. About 800 ​ miles from Hawaii their plane, also known as “The Green Hornet” developed mechanical issues and lost power in two of it’s engines. Russell Allen Phillips (also ​ known as ‘Phil’) tried to fix the plane, but was unsuccessful. The crash killed eight of the eleven men. Zamperini was one of the three men to survive the crash. Him ​ and the two other crew members, Russell Allen Phillips and Francis McNamara, ​ climbed on two rafts. The three men had few supplies and little food. The men ​ were faced with a shark infested waters, the blazing sun, Japanese bombers, and awful weather. On the 33 day, McNamara passed away. Only two weeks later Zamperini and Phillips were captured off the coast of the , about 2000 miles away from the crash site. History.com states “Lieutenant Zamperini, who was 5-foot-9, went from 125 pounds to 75 pounds.” (Andrews) This shows how the time he spent adrift in the ocean changed him drastically. After being captured by a Japanese War ship, Zamperini and Phillips spent 6 weeks at Atoll island interrogation camp. During the next two years Zamperini ​ spent his life in a Prisoner of War camp. He overcame starvation, disease, and torture by the Japanese. At the camps Zamperini met a man that went by the name

3 of Mutsuhiro Watanabe, also called “The Bird” by several other pows. Watanabe ​ found it joyful to torture Zamperini. He made it his mission to make Zamperini suffer. Mutsuhiro beat Zamperini with clubs, belts and fists and would threaten to kill him. “On one occasion, he had Zamperini hold a heavy wooden beam above his head and threatened to shoot him if he dropped it” States History.com. This is one of the examples of the suffering he endured at the Prisoner of War camps. While Zamperini was at the Prisoner of War camp the Japanese used him as a propaganda tool. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Watanabe’s “number one prisoner,” was spared from execution but served as a propaganda tool.” This means that he was forced to make broadcasts for the Japanese at the Ofuna interrogation center. After his broadcasts with the Japanese, he was sent back to the Prisoner of War camps for more torment and abuse. Zamperini later agreed to read a message over broadcast telling his parents that he was alive. After the one message that he read, he refused to cooperate any further, and was sent back to the POW camps. After two long years of suffering and torture in the Prisoner of War camps, on September 5, 1945 Zamperini and his peers we liberated from the camps. After returning home, Zamperini’s past war experiences continued to haunt him. He ​ suffered with ptsd and alcoholism. History.com states He nearly ended his marriage with his wife, Cynthia Applewhite.Zamperini and his wife had two children, Luke and Cynthia (Cissy). Zamperini and his wife were married for 54 years until 2001 when she passed away.“ His years of malnourishment and torture ​ left him unable to resume his career as a runner” (Andrews) It was in the early 1950’s when Zamperini heard a speach from Billy Grandham. Zamperini later claimed “He was saved from his posttraumatic stress after witnessing a sermon by the evangelical preacher in 1949.”(History.Com) This shows how Zamperini found his way back from a hard time through the way of god. In 1950 Zamperini returned to to address the World War II prisoners, that were held in Sugamo Prison, Tokyo. He later went back again as a missionary and also went ​ back to run the torch in the in , Japan. By doing this he found peace in his life and was able to return without any hate towards anyone.

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Zamperini was an extraordinary man who endured so much.Through all of his hardships and challenges he stayed strong. Zamperini’s will to survive and not ​ let anyone bring him down, made him stronger as a person. And his story will continue to be an inspiration to many people.

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This is a picture of Louis Zamperini in his teen years when he started running. Brogdon, Olivia. "Louis Zamperini." My Hero Stories, MY HERO Project, ​ ​ 2017Louis Zamperini, myhero.com/louis-zamperini-7. This website has pictures that are shown in the paper.

This is a picture of Louis Zamperini (middle) in 1936 representing the United States in the 1936 Olympics. ​ Schudel, Matt. "Louis Zamperini, One Time Olympic Runner Who Survived WWII Ordeals, Dies at 97." The Washington Post, 3 July 2014, ​ ​ www.washingtonpost.com/national/ louis-zamperini-onetime-olympic-runner-who-survived-wwii-ordeals-dies-at-97/2014/ 07/03/954b8d30-02c9-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html. This is a written story by Matt Schudel, this website includes pictures and information on Louis Zamperini.

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This is a picture of Zamperini inspecting the damage on a B-24 bomber, in 1942 Andrews, Evan. "8 Things You May Not Know about Louis Zamperini." History.com, Television Networks, 17 Dec. 2014, www.history.com/news/ ​ ​ 8-things-you-may-not-know-about-louis-zamperini. This is a website that provides interesting and important facts about Louis Zamperini.

This is a picture of Zamperini at the time of World War II. The exact date is unknown Donahue, Deirdre. "The sensational tale of World War II vet Louis Zamperini teaches a lesson in redemption." AARP, AARP Bulletin, Nov. 2014, ​ ​ www.aarp.org/entertainment/books/info-2014/ laura-hillenbrand-unbroken-zamperini.html. This website includes a picture that's featured in the paper.

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This is a picture of Louis Zamperini (top right) and his family. Miller, Karter. "The Life of Louie Zamperini after World War 2." Sutori, ​ ​ www.sutori.com/story/ the-life-of-louie-zamperini-after-world-war-2--BznLCbQYqZCJx1yq2KnhxJJ8. This website includes pictures of Louis Zamperini and his family. These pictures are featured in the paper.

This is a picture of Louis Zamperini in 1988 in Nagano, Japan. He is carrying the torch for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Miller, Karter. "The Life of Louie Zamperini after World War 2." Sutori, ​ ​ www.sutori.com/story/ the-life-of-louie-zamperini-after-world-war-2--BznLCbQYqZCJx1yq2KnhxJJ8. This website includes pictures of Louis Zamperini and his family. These pictures are featured in the paper.

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Annotated Bibliography Primary Sources Hillenbrand, Laura. Unbroken. United States, Random House Publishing Group, ​ ​ 2010. This is a book about Louis Zamperini's story written by Laura Hillenbrand Secondary Sources Andrews, Evan. "8 Things You May Not Know about Louis Zamperini." History.com, Television Networks, 17 Dec. 2014, www.history.com/news/ ​ ​ 8-things-you-may-not-know-about-louis-zamperini. This is a website that provides interesting and important facts about Louis Zamperini.

Berkow, Ira. "Louis Zamperini, Olympian and 'Unbroken' War Survivor, Dies at 97." New York Times, 2020 The New York Times Company, 3 July 2014, ​ ​ www.nytimes.com/2014/07/04/arts/ louis-zamperini-olympian-war-survivor-unbroken-dies.html. This website includes a picture and information that was cited in the paper.

Brogdon, Olivia. "Louis Zamperini." My Hero Stories, MY HERO Project, 2017Louis ​ ​ Zamperini, myhero.com/louis-zamperini-7. This website has pictures that are shown in the paper.

Donahue, Deirdre. "The sensational tale of World War II vet Louis Zamperini teaches a lesson in redemption." AARP, AARP Bulletin, Nov. 2014, ​ ​ www.aarp.org/entertainment/books/info-2014/ laura-hillenbrand-unbroken-zamperini.html. This website includes a picture that's featured in the paper.

Miller, Karter. "The Life of Louie Zamperini after World War 2." Sutori, www.sutori.com/story/ the-life-of-louie-zamperini-after-world-war-2--BznLCbQYqZCJx1yq2KnhxJJ8. This website includes pictures of Louis Zamperini and his family. These pictures are featured in the paper.

"The Rest of the Story: The Life of Louis Zamperini after 'Unbroken.'" Reasonable Theology, ReasonableTheology.org, reasonabletheology.org/ ​ ​ the-rest-of-the-story-louis-zamperini-after-unbroken/. This is a website about Zamperini's life after the book Unbroken. ​ ​

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Schudel, Matt. "Louis Zamperini, Onetime Olympic Runner Who Survived WWII Ordeals, Dies at 97." The Washington Post, 3 July 2014, ​ ​ www.washingtonpost.com/national/louis-zamperini-onetime-olympic-runner-who-surviv ed-wwii-ordeals-dies-at-97/2014/ 07/03/954b8d30-02c9-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html. This is a written story by Matt Schudel, this website includes pictures and information on Louis Zamperini.

VAntagePoint Contributor. "Louis Zamperini: From Olympic Track Star to POW." U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VAntage Point, 14 Nov. 2019, ​ ​ www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/68125/louis-zamperini-from-olympic-track-star-to-pow/. This website includes information on Louis Zamperini, it includes information on how he was used as a propaganda tool for the Japanese.