Louis Zamperini

Gabriel Concepcion

Mr. Younger

HS English 2

13 May, 2016

The "Unbroken" Hero

Louis Zamperini was possibly one of the most inspirational, "All American" heroes to be found. His list of accomplishments is extensive: Track and Field Prodigy, Olympic Athlete, World War â…¡ Bombardier, plane crash survivor, survived in a raft at sea for 47 days, withstood torture as a POW under the Japanese, and Born-Again Christian. The issues Zamperini would face and how he dealt with them would ultimately define him. Louis Zamperini's life is an inspirational story of a persistent and brave hero who battled near-impossible odds.

Louis Zamperini was persistent because of his unrelenting spirit and unwillingness to give up. Throughout Louis Zamperini's life, his persistence has brought him great success, such as one of his greatest achievements: qualifying for the 1936 Olympic Games. "He became a track prodigy and would run the 5,000 meter race so fast that at 19, he became the youngest American to qualify for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin" Thanks to his dedication and persistence, Zamperini became such a great runner, he qualified for the Olympics. Were it not for these defining traits, Zamperini would not have achieved such a feat, especially at such a young age. Later in life, Zamperini's persistence would again be tested when his B-24 Liberator crashed and left him and only two other crew members stranded on rafts in the middle of the Pacific. "After 47 days at sea, Zamperini and another starving man were found by a Japanese patrol boat; the third crewman had perished. The men were imprisoned and tortured for more than two years." Though he was faced with such insurmountable, seemingly hopeless situations, Zamperini  survived. By refusing to give up, he was able to withstand both the stranding in the Pacific as well as the abuse at the hands of the Japanese. Zamperini, like most people, would have easily perished were it not for his unbreakable, persistent spirit and extraordinarily strong will to live.

It is thanks to Louis Zamperini's bravery and courage that both kept him alive and made him a hero. One such example of his bravery was after the 1936 Olympics, when Zamperini decided to enlist in the military during World War …. "A few years later, the nation was at war, and Zamperini was a bombardier in the Army Air Corps." By joining the military, Zamperini illustrated his willingness to sacrifice his life in the defense of others. Also, Zamperini, unknowingly, joined in on a venture that would nearly cost him his life, sanity, and his legacy. Another example of Zamperini's bravery is during Zamperini's 47 day stranding in the Pacific. "Zamperini. spent weeks adrift in a pair of inflatable life rafts, surviving on rainwater and captured fish and birds while enduring a typhoon, shark attacks and strafing by Japanese planes." Where most people would have given up at each obstacle, Zamperini bravely took on each challenge. Without fear, he faced them and lived on only to encounter even worse threats. However, Zamperini's courage allowed him to fight against the odds and not only kept him alive but had also made him a legend.

The various atrocities that befell Louis Zamperini and the ways he would react and recover from them have made him an inspiration to all kinds of people. One such example of his inspirational story is when Zamperini competed in the Olympics. "As a 19-year-old University of Southern California track star Zamperini drew spectators' cheers (and Adolf Hitler's praise) at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin with his blazing 56-second last lap in the 5,000 meters, despite finishing eighth." Just qualifying for the Olympics is an impressive feat, especially at such a young age. However, despite finishing 8th, Zamperini did well against such experienced, superior competitors, finishing with an incredibly fast last lap in the 5,000 meter or 56 seconds. Another time when Zamperini set an example was during his time as a POW and what he eventually did after the ordeal. "He was imprisoned in a Japanese camp, where he was tortured for two years. He recovered, forgave his tormentors, and lived a life that inspired others." Where most would have cracked under the terrible conditions, Zamperini withstood torture and torment at the hands of the Japanese for two straight years. Astoundingly, after being rescued, Zamperini not only recovered from the trauma but found the ability within himself to even forgive his enemies despite their crimes against him, his country, and his allies. From fighting against the odds to forgiving people for the most despicable crimes, Louis Zamperini set an example for many people of various beliefs, mind-sets, and interests.

Louis Zamperini has proven himself to as a hero by not giving up, showing courage, and setting an example for other people. Even though he faced great opposition throughout his life, Zamperini pushed on by being persistent and brave. Today the story of his struggle still empowers and inspires people today.

Works Cited

Cheryl, Corley. "Remembering Louis Zamperini, Olympian And War Hero." All Things Considered (NPR) (2014): Newspaper Source. Web. 4 May 2016.

"Louis Zamperini." Gale Biography in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Biography in Context. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.

Manley, Brendan. "Louis Zamperini, 97, Olympian, Airman, Crash Survivor And POW." Military History 31.4 (2014): 8. History Reference Center. Web. 4 May 2016.

Reid, Charles Henry, Jr. "​Remembering the "Unbroken" Spirit of Louis Zamperini." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 6 July 2014. Web. 02 May 2016.