Background/ Early Years
Louis “Louie” Zamperini, “the son of Italian immigrants, who had come into the world of Olean, New York on January 26, 1917” was “eleven and a half pounds of baby under black hair as coarse as barbed wire” (5 Hillenbrand). The Zamperinis soon decided to move to Torrance, California when Louie was three for his father’s job as a railroad electrician. Louie grew up in Torrance with his parents, older brother, and two younger sisters.
Louie was the second of four children, with an older brother who was already the “good kid,” so instead, Louie turned to petty theft, stealing whatever he could get his hands on, especially if it was edible. He even, “at five… started smoking, picking up cigarette butts on the way to kindergarten. He began drinking one night when he was eight” (5 Hillenbrand).
Trials/ Adversities
Louie may have become famous over time, but that doesn’t mean his life was easy or …show more content…
He became an inspirational speaker and a writer, and pushed through his challenges and even forgave his captors, who held him as a POW for over two years. He even founded a camp called “Victory Boys Camp.”
Louie pushed through, even when times were tough, and all other hopes faded. He knew that there was a possibility that he might never see his family again. He knew there was a possibility that he would die in the middle of the ocean, and he knew that he probably would’ve died in the concentration camps. Even so, he pushed through. “Lying before them was a thick, heavy wooden beam, some six feet long. Pick it up, the Bird said. With some effort, Louie hoisted it up, and the Bird ordered him to lift it high and hold it directly over his head. The Bird called a guard over. If the prisoner lowers his arms, the Bird told him, hit him with your gun… Louie had held the beam for thirty-seven minutes.” (301
Louis “Louie” Zamperini, “the son of Italian immigrants, who had come into the world of Olean, New York on January 26, 1917” was “eleven and a half pounds of baby under black hair as coarse as barbed wire” (5 Hillenbrand). The Zamperinis soon decided to move to Torrance, California when Louie was three for his father’s job as a railroad electrician. Louie grew up in Torrance with his parents, older brother, and two younger sisters.
Louie was the second of four children, with an older brother who was already the “good kid,” so instead, Louie turned to petty theft, stealing whatever he could get his hands on, especially if it was edible. He even, “at five… started smoking, picking up cigarette butts on the way to kindergarten. He began drinking one night when he was eight” (5 Hillenbrand).
Trials/ Adversities
Louie may have become famous over time, but that doesn’t mean his life was easy or …show more content…
He became an inspirational speaker and a writer, and pushed through his challenges and even forgave his captors, who held him as a POW for over two years. He even founded a camp called “Victory Boys Camp.”
Louie pushed through, even when times were tough, and all other hopes faded. He knew that there was a possibility that he might never see his family again. He knew there was a possibility that he would die in the middle of the ocean, and he knew that he probably would’ve died in the concentration camps. Even so, he pushed through. “Lying before them was a thick, heavy wooden beam, some six feet long. Pick it up, the Bird said. With some effort, Louie hoisted it up, and the Bird ordered him to lift it high and hold it directly over his head. The Bird called a guard over. If the prisoner lowers his arms, the Bird told him, hit him with your gun… Louie had held the beam for thirty-seven minutes.” (301