This autobiography by Louis Zamperini is a truly amazing tale of survival during World War II. Before the war, Louis was an Olympic runner from Torrance, California, and had participated in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, coming in 8th in the 5000 meter event. However, his final lap was so fast that it impressed Adolf Hitler, who requested a meeting with Louie, calling him “the boy with the fast finish”.
When war broke out in 1941, Louis had already enlisted with the US Army Air Force, and wound up as a bombadier on a B-24 Liberator bomber and stationed on Funafuti, an island in the Pacific. His crew survived being shot down by the Japanese during a ferocious air battle over the island of Nauru, managing to nurse the plane back to Funafuti. However, Louis’s luck run outs when his crew is sent out to look for a missing plane. His replacement plane is defective, and mechanical problems cause the plane to crash in the ocean. Louis is forced to float in a raft for 47 days, with very little food and water, along with 2 other crew members, one dying after 33 days. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he and his pilot, Phil Phillips, are then captured by the Japanese and held in prisoner of war camps for almost three years, before being rescued at the end of the war. The details of life as a POW under the Japanese are horrific and not to be believed. The fact that these men dealt with the severe punishments and managed to survive is truly a testament to their resilience and strength.
I’m not a big fan of war accounts, but this book left me feeling extremely grateful for the liberties that we share in the US. In looking up some facts about Louis, I discovered that he is still alive at 96, and Angelina Jolie is currently directing a film based on Hillenbrand’s book, which will open in theatres Dec. 2014. I am looking forward to seeing it. Give Unbroken a read, it’s worth it.