The incredible abuse experienced by the prisoners' of war while being held by their captors is unfathomable. Constant beatings among verbal and mental abuse, lack of adequate, basic needs such as food, water, and proper shelter, and on top of all of these extreme injustices they are forced to carry out back breaking work in such conditions. All of these cruel practices are demonstrated in the popular book, Unbroken written by Laura Hillenbrand . Unbroken follows Louis Zamperini, a famous Olympic runner who is also a pilot for the U.S. military fighting in World War II. He is also a prisoner of war. These “POW camps” the men were held in are smothering holes of despair and defeat for the prisoners who get locked in its clutches. “Iron must be beaten while it’s hot; soldiers must be beaten while they’re fresh (Unbroken p.194).” In chapter eighteen of Unbroken, Louie and Phil are practically fighting for their lives in the Japanese POW camp they were taken to. The prisoners are subjected to heavy abuse from their containment guards. Day-and-night like clock-work,
…show more content…
The prisoners were expected to survive and work while being fed hardtack and a small cup of tea once a day. This, of course, varied in each of the camps Louis was transported to. Some camps would give their slaves a meal now-and-again, however like Louis said in chapter eighteen on page 196, “... the food was infested with rats and maggots.” Which only furthered the spread of disease within the camps. These infestations also carried over to their confines, which were infested with mosquitos, rats, lice and other disease carrying creatures, so it should come as a shock that Louis contracted beriberi from the inadequate nourishment, and housing he received while in the hostile camp. However, if the men ever spoke out against any of the injustices they were experiencing they would be beaten, and consequently put to
The prisoners were expected to survive and work while being fed hardtack and a small cup of tea once a day. This, of course, varied in each of the camps Louis was transported to. Some camps would give their slaves a meal now-and-again, however like Louis said in chapter eighteen on page 196, “... the food was infested with rats and maggots.” Which only furthered the spread of disease within the camps. These infestations also carried over to their confines, which were infested with mosquitos, rats, lice and other disease carrying creatures, so it should come as a shock that Louis contracted beriberi from the inadequate nourishment, and housing he received while in the hostile camp. However, if the men ever spoke out against any of the injustices they were experiencing they would be beaten, and consequently put to