Louie Zamperini

Louie today (http://www.faithcrc.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05 (http://www.faithcrc.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05))

Most afternoons you can find a 92 year old man perching high in his well trimmed trees, on his Beverly Hills estate wielding his favorite chainsaw, making final touches to his beautiful garden. Of course this isn't any regular crazy old man. This is the famous and loved Louie Zamperini. Growing up in Torrance, California, in the early 1900's Louie, a delinquent child that gave up his bad habits, life of robberies, and mischief for the fame and taste of victory that came as a reward to running at the Olympic level. Louie also ran in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and while there he met the most dangerous man in Germany, a certain man called by name of Adolf Hitler who addressed him as "The kid with the fast finish." Hitler was referring to Louie's record shattering final lap of his 5000 meter race. Later Louie then enlisted in the US Air Force and in one of his rescue missions his plane was shot down. Louie floated on a raft for 47 days (another world record) before being captured by the Japanese and made a prisoner of war. Heroes should posses a variety of different traits but Louie possesses some of the most important. Louie Zamperini, an Olympic Track runner that met Hitler in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and a US Bombardier during World War 2 is a hero for his undying courage, his ability to forgive his wrongdoers, and for his bountiful selflessness.

Louie inspecting the ships damages (http://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/e56f968a ())

Louie Zamperini shows his undying courage in several different ways. During the War and the Olympics, Louie showed acts of courage repeatedly, one act of courage included Louie showing his resistance to the Bird one of the cruelest Japanese guards and to the Japanese. " Louie stood in the sun holding the six foot beam over his head, minutes passed and Louie thought to himself He cannot break me. The Bird ran toward him, punched him in the stomach, and Louie blacked out, when he awoke Louie learned from his companions that he had held the beam aloft for 37 minutes (Hillenbrand 296)." In this quote Louie refused to be broken by The Bird and showed courage to stand against him. The Bird constantly abused Louie and by standing up to him he showed his other fellow P.O.Ws that it was ok to stand against the Japanese. Louie's courage is also shown by his actions in combat including one flight when Louie and his fellow crew members fought off several Japanese fighters: "We took on 600 bullet holes, 5 cannon holes, the tail wing shot off, tire flattened, blood was everywhere, 7 people seriously injured and 1 died but we kept fighting and most of us survived (Eric Barger 3:24)." Louie tells us that while fighting off the Japanese fighters he was scared and kept fighting when any second he knew he could be shot down. Louie, by listing the causalities they took shows that he was scared and during the fight and proud that they fought off the Japanese. Louie is an idol to people for his great deeds and his undying courage.

Louie with Billy Graham (http://www.faithcrc.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05 ())

The ability to forgive is also a heroic trait .One of the most important things Louie is known for is his ability to forgive especially his tormentors. "Finally, with the help of Billy Graham, Zamperini forgave the Bird and his other tormentors, which liberated him as much as the B-29s did at the end of the war (Daily Camera 1)." Louie after all the struggles through his life was enlightened by Billy Graham and shown the path to forgiveness. Louie was filled with hatred for the Bird and then he learned to power of forgiveness and his ability to forgive made him a better person. Louie learned to forgive the Japanese for all the pain they caused him and his country. "Carrying the Olympic torch in Japan in 1998, all these little kids were cheering me on, asking for autographs. It was great. I just couldn't believe it. The love these people offered me made me forget about the labor camp. I told them: When I leave tomorrow, I will look back (Cristine Fennessy 1)." This quote shows that before, Louie hated the Japanese. Now he sees the salvation in forgiveness and "Will look back" upon the Japanese and will forgive them. The Japanese's friendliness towards Louie makes him forgive them. Forgiveness is a heroic trait to have; it saved Louie from the monster he created inside himself

Selflessness is one of the most important heroic traits. Louie also possesses this selflessness so essential in being a hero. An example of this is when Louie was offered rewards to read propaganda over the radio station. "Zamperini's Olympic fame saved him, as he was being saved for propaganda purposes. The day came when he was taken from Omori to Tokyo, shown clean sheets, given food, and told that if he would read a propaganda statement over the air, he could live in luxury. Zamperini refused and was beaten even more severely, and then moved to the worst camp of all, the snow-bound and frigid Naotuse in northern Japan (Camera Daily 1)." Louie refused a life of luxury and comfort because he would not say propaganda for the Japanese to demoralize of the US. Louie was willing to take severe beatings and a transfer to worse Japanese camp to spare his country the propaganda. Even after the war and the climax of his life Louie started giving back to the community by starting his own camp. "Victory camp became a tonic for lost boys. Boys who came to camp ruffians often left renewed and reformed (Hillenbrand 381)." Louie started a camp for troubled boys with stealing problems etc. He helped them on the path to peace. Louie wanted to change people's lives and he didn't want these boys to go through the same rough childhood he had experienced. Louie's selflessness is evident in most all of his actions whether it is from acting for his country or for his local community.

Louie close up (http://laurahillenbrandbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/louie-zamperini.jpg)

Louie Zamperini, a renowned Olympic track runner and a U.S Bombardier in World War 2, is a hero for his actions and the three specific traits he displays and owns on a daily basis. Louie is a hero for his courage in the face of danger, his ability to forgive his wrongdoers and his selflessness in giving back to his community and his country. Louie is an inspiration for me because he changed my perspective of life. I heard him speak at a high school and the way he changes lives really touched me. This one man has touched the heart of thousands and has bettered people's lives everywhere. Louie's story should empower us to face our lives with courage, forgiveness, and selflessness. It should make us realize that maybe a bad hair day or cracking your iPhone screen isn't that big of a deal compared to bullet wounds, starvation, or torture. It should make us realize that our little problems are meager to the big world problems like war. So I ask this of you, today when something goes wrong face it with courage face it with forgiveness, face it with selflessness. And remember what Louie said "I'd made it this far and refused to give up because all my life I had always finished the race."

Barger, Eric. "Louie Zamperini, A Real American Hero." YouTube. YouTube, 23 Dec. 2010. Web. 11 Dec.         2012.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9O5yVzc0vQ

Camera, Daily. "'Unbroken' Captures Undefeatable Spirit of Runner Louie Zamperini." - Boulder Daily Camera- Louie Zamperini. Daily Camera, 15 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012 http://www.dailycamera.com/recreationcolumnists/ci_21779531/unbroken- captures-undefeatable-spirit-runner-louie-zamperini

Fennessy, Christine. "The great Zamperini : Life According to Louie." Runner's World Jan. 2011: 095. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 5 Dec. 2012

Hillenbrand, Laura. Unbroken. London: Fourth Estate, 2011. Print.

"The My Hero Project - Louie Zamperini." Myhero.com. My Hero Projects, 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012http://www.myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=L_Zamperini_opis_US_2011