A few years ago I read a wonderful book called Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand I highly recommend the book to everyone.
Check out this trailer below, looks fantastic, hopefully it would do a bit of justice to the story and the man.
The book is divided into five parts:
Part I — where we meet the juvenile delinquent Louis Zamperini and his family. Always getting in trouble for breaking & entering, fighting and stealing, Louis finally finds his calling on the track and becomes a prodigy in short distance running.
Part II – After a commanding performance in the Berlin Olympics, Louis’ dreams of a medal get tarnished with the events leading to World War II. The athlete becomes an airman. Louis’ crew mates and buddies train for bombing missions on their B-24 and even have several successful runs. Feeling lucky to be alive they rejoice everyday until they are forced to go on a rescue mission (the plane they were given was not air worthy) and crash into the Pacific.
Part III — Adrift at sea Louie’, Phil and Mac survive and astounding 47 fighting sharks, hunger, thirst, heat and cold. They drift 2,000 miles only to become POWs.
Part IV – The survives are sent to the dreadful island of Kwajalein, known as “Execution Island” and unexpectedly sent to Yokohama, a POW camp. Louie meets his share of sadistic POW guards, disease, starvation and slave labor. However the stubborn man lives through the ordeal to the end of the war, all the way home.
Part V — Louie’s home, but the war leaves its scars, both physical and emotional.
Epilogue – What happened to the those mentioned in the story. A wrap up.
Acknowledgment– well worth reading. The author tells of her research, interviews and more.
Notes – Certainly worth a glance.
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