Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hildebrand is about the life of Louis Silvie Zamperini, a young man who would go from a troubled youth, to an Olympic runner and survive as a prisoner of war in Japan during World War II. Zamperini, who was born in Olean, New York in 1917, would live to be 97 years old passing on July 2, 2014. The story covers Zamperini’s troubled youth growing up in a poor Italian family in Torrance. Zamperini’s brother, Pete, would play an important role, getting Louis, the younger of the two, to take his running from the law and convert it to running for the school track team. Louis would eventually take his talent to the World Olympics. His currier as a runner would be interrupted
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Zamperini would eventually be involved in two plane crashes. Zamperini would develop a closer relationship with pilot Russel Philips, and machine gunner, Francis McNamara. Before the second plane crash Zamperini’s crew has been sent on a rescue mission to find another plane and crew that is missing in the Pacific Ocean somewhere near the Marshal Islands. Zamperini’s crew had been given a new plane on this mission because the first plane was destroyed in a crash landing and bombing. The new plane which was a B-24 was slower, and awkward for the crew. During their search mission the plane would develop mechanical problems and pilot Russel Phillips would have to ditch the plane in the Pacific Ocean. Only three men would survive the plane crash, Russel “Phil” Phillips, Francis “Mac” McNamara and Louis “Zamp” …show more content…
During his time in the POW camp, Zamperini would face many obstacles and torture. One Prison Camp guard in particular, a young Japanese man, who went by the name Mutsuhiro Watanabe, had a strong hold against Zamperini and beat him, and humiliated him more than any other prisoner he came upon. When Mutsuhiro got mad about something, he turned to Louis. Sometimes he would turn on him without even having a reason, but Louis never gave up and kept getting back up. The men referred to Mutsuhiro by a host of nicknames, including the Animal, the Big Flag, Little Napoleon, and, most often, the Bird, a name chosen because it carried no negative connotation that could get the POWs beaten. One time, Mutsuhiro took Louis aside, he was ready to kill Louie. Louis had just failed to keep up with his goat, the Bird had told him to take care of the sick goat saying, “If goat die, you die” the goat had died, Louie tried hiding from the Bird, but he was found multiple times. The Bird let him go until now, when he stopped he saw something that caught his eye. He told Louie to go over and pick up 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
Zamperini would eventually be involved in two plane crashes. Zamperini would develop a closer relationship with pilot Russel Philips, and machine gunner, Francis McNamara. Before the second plane crash Zamperini’s crew has been sent on a rescue mission to find another plane and crew that is missing in the Pacific Ocean somewhere near the Marshal Islands. Zamperini’s crew had been given a new plane on this mission because the first plane was destroyed in a crash landing and bombing. The new plane which was a B-24 was slower, and awkward for the crew. During their search mission the plane would develop mechanical problems and pilot Russel Phillips would have to ditch the plane in the Pacific Ocean. Only three men would survive the plane crash, Russel “Phil” Phillips, Francis “Mac” McNamara and Louis “Zamp” …show more content…
During his time in the POW camp, Zamperini would face many obstacles and torture. One Prison Camp guard in particular, a young Japanese man, who went by the name Mutsuhiro Watanabe, had a strong hold against Zamperini and beat him, and humiliated him more than any other prisoner he came upon. When Mutsuhiro got mad about something, he turned to Louis. Sometimes he would turn on him without even having a reason, but Louis never gave up and kept getting back up. The men referred to Mutsuhiro by a host of nicknames, including the Animal, the Big Flag, Little Napoleon, and, most often, the Bird, a name chosen because it carried no negative connotation that could get the POWs beaten. One time, Mutsuhiro took Louis aside, he was ready to kill Louie. Louis had just failed to keep up with his goat, the Bird had told him to take care of the sick goat saying, “If goat die, you die” the goat had died, Louie tried hiding from the Bird, but he was found multiple times. The Bird let him go until now, when he stopped he saw something that caught his eye. He told Louie to go over and pick up 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