Louis Zamperini

"To persevere is important to everybody. Don't give up, don't give in. There is always an answer to everything" (Zamperini). Perseverance is everything to young Louis Zamperini. Louis Zamperini started his life as a criminal that would drink, steal, and run from the cops. His brother saw his potential, and taught him to run. He was fast and even got to being an Olympic runner that got eighth place in the 1936 Berlin Olympics at nineteen years old. He then joined the military Air Force when his life changed. His plane crashed, stranding him at sea for 47 days. This is where he was found and sent to a Japanese POW camp for two years. Louis then made it home. He showed that he has the bravery and persistence to go through being stranded at sea for over six weeks, and being tortured for over two years. He had the hope to throughout his life that one day, he would survive. Louis Zamperini was not just another war veteran; he was a hero because he was courageous in  the face of death, had perseverance when hope was slim, and he was determined throughout his life.

Louis Zamperini's perseverance helped him to survive, even though there was a small chance. While Louis was in the air force, during a rescue mission to find a downed plane in May of 1943, his plane crashed, leaving them stranded at sea:"Of the 11 men onboard, only Zamperini and two other airmen survived the crash-but help was nowhere to be found, and the men were stranded on a raft together for 47 days" (Biography.com).  Louis would think everyday about of one day, seeing has family again. This would help him to survive for 47 days, while stranded. After being stranded at sea for over a month,  the terror didn't end. Louis was caught by a Japanese ship and sent to a POW camp, where he was, "shipped to the Japanese mainland and eventually confined to three different interrogation centers and POW camps. Over the next two years, he suffered from disease, exposure, starvation, and near-daily beatings from guards" (Andrews). Louis would be tortured every day for over two years. He would constantly think about coming home and seeing family. The hope of coming home helped Louis to survive. He had persevered and that has kept him away from death. The thought of Louis making it through the helped him to persevere, even after the brutality that he went through .

Louis Zamperini showed courage throughout his life  that helped him to survive. After the war, Louis suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was an alcoholic that would come home late every night, a lot of the time drunk. He learned to overcome it.  After he overcame this problem: "He went on to found a camp for troubled youths called Victory Boys Camp and forgave his Japanese tormenters. Some received Zamperini's forgiveness in person in 1950, when he visited a Tokyo prison where they were serving war-crime sentences," (Biography.com). Louis Zamperini had the courage to forgive his tormentors after he was beaten, starved, and tortured by them for two years.  He had the fortitude to be able to forgive and fordet about what happened. The war had ended, and Louis was sent home. He was: "Scarred by his ordeal, upon his return home, Zamperini suffered from alcoholism, and he and his wife, Cynthia, came close to divorce. (They stayed married, though, for 54 years, until her death in 2001.)" (Biography.com). Louis thought that he would to leave his wife. He, however, had the courage to stay with her, after thinking and praying about it for a while. Even after having PTSD and almost leaving his wife, he decided to go see Billy Graham. This changed his life forever. It gave Louis courage that helped him to both stay with his wife, and survive after the war.

Louis had determination throughout his life that helped him to survive. In 1938, Zamperini was back setting records at the collegiate level, this time breaking the mile record of 4:08.3, a new mark that held for 15 years (Biography.com). Louis was a very determined runner called the "Torrance Tornado."  He was known for  having a remarkably fast last lap. With the help of his brother Peter, Louis ran and increased his mile time. He was so determined, that he made it to the Olympics. The Olympics were cancelled due to the war, so Louis decided to join the military. He was sent on a rescue mission when his plane crashed, stranding him at sea.  A Japanese boat found him, leaving him at a POW camp. "Over the next two years, he suffered from disease, exposure, starvation, and near-daily beatings from guards. Japanese corporal Mutsuhiro Watanabe, nicknamed "the Bird" by the POWs, took particular glee in torturing the runner,"(Andrews). He was determined to stay alive during the two gruesome years. He would have likely thought every day about getting home, and that has kept him alive. Louis Zamperini had determination all of his life that led him to the Olympics, and led him home from a two year long world of torture.