Louis Zamperini

(http://www.hometownheroesradio.com/louis-zamperini ())

"At the end of the day, all you need is hope and strength. Hope that it will get better, and strength to hold on until it does" (Whitmore, Jazmin). This quote relates to Louis Zamperini because of what he has done as a person. As a child, Zamperini was wild, and often stole and drank (Hillenbrand). His brother Pete decided to change him one day and forced him to run track (Hillenbrand). Soon Louis became one of the fastest men at the time. But before he could run in Tokyo's Olympics, World War II had started (Hillenbrand). Louis enlisted himself in the Air Force as a bombardier, and flew many missions (Hillenbrand). One day while on a search mission, his plane went down and he was stranded in the Atlantic with two other men, and almost no food (Hillenbrand). 47 days later he was found by Japanese and was taken to a Prisoner of war camp where he was tortured and beaten for two years until he was rescued (Hillenbrand). Because he went through so much, Louis learned to be strong, and to never give up. In the late fifties, he even took a trip to Japan to visit and decided to forgive the Japanese soldiers. Louis Zamperini's strong-will to survive, and ability to forgive make him a hero and an inspiration.

Louis evaluates a bullet hole in his plane (http://gagomilitaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/luis-zam ())

Louis Zamperini's strong willpower and strength to survive is one reason he was a hero. Louis Zamperini fought through so much, "He and another crew member drifted on a raft for 47 days and nearly starved while floating in shark-infested waters. Zamperini was then captured by Japanese forces and spent more than two years as a prisoner of war where he was repeatedly tortured." (Remembering Louis). This shows he is strong-willed because he pushed himself past the limits to survive, utilizing hope and the strength of his will to live. This quote proves he is a hero because of the incredible journey he had to take. After the hardships he faced, Louis said to Laura Hillenbrand "It was not so much due to the pain and suffering as it was the tension of stress and humiliation that caused me to hate with a vengeance. Under your discipline, my rights, not only as a prisoner of war but also as a human being were stripped from me. It was a struggle to maintain enough dignity and hope to live until the war's end." (Hillenbrand). This shows that Louie is strong-willed because he had to fight through everything that came his way; not just physically, but mentally as well. Louis pushed his mindset, and his body through undeniably incredible ways, which makes him a hero. Through these two quotes, it is evident that Louis Zamperini is a hero because of his strong will.

Louis revisits a Japanese POW camp (https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/FORGIVEN ())

Louis Zamperini's ability to forgive his oppressors is another reason he is a hero. When Louis was in a POW camp, he was constantly tortured and beaten, in his later life "he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, was plagued by nightmares, and became an alcoholic. In the process, his marriage to his wife, Cynthia, nearly ended. Hearing a sermon by Billy Graham in 1949 helped him recover, and he eventually found a career in commercial real estate. He also was a public speaker, coached track, established a camp for troubled youth, and once even returned to Japan as a missionary" ("Louis Zamperini." Newsmakers). This shows he is forgiving because instead of letting the PTSD take over him, he found peace with himself and decided to help others. This makes him a hero because he found a way to forgive his enemies and did not believe in revenge. Louis Zamperini went through pain and suffering, and in an interview with Laura Hillenbrand he stated that '"the post-war nightmares caused my life to crumble, but thanks to a confrontation with God through the evangelist Billy Graham, I committed my life to Christ. Love replaced the hate I had for you. Christ said 'Forgive your enemies and pray for them'" (Hillenbrand). This shows Louis is forgiving because he was able to use religion to pull himself out of the dark cave of depression and alcoholism he fell into. This proves he is a hero because he was able to forgive the antagonists in his life and move on before his life became ruined. Through these quotes, it is evident that Louis Zamperini was forgiving, and what he forgave his enemies for, proves that he is a hero and inspiration.

Because Louis had a strong will, and was able to forgive his antagonists, he is a inspiration and hero. Louis was able to survive and fight through incredible events for several years, and forgave his enemies by becoming a follower of Christianity, which proves he was a hero. An article describes his later life by saying, "Yet it is truly his passion for life and mental vitality that continues to impress people around the world" (Louis Zamperini: The Story). Louis has been a big inspiration by proving what lengths one can go through and he shows how even the most sinful things can be forgiven. Throughout his life, Louis Zamperini had incredible strength, but he also needed hope to carry on.