Christians can be inspired by Louis Zamperini for his tremendous courage as a World War II soldier lost at sea for weeks and his bravery as a prisoner of war. But they can take hope in his transformation from post-war alcoholism and depression to giving his life to Christ and visiting his tormentors to forgive them.
Zamperini was born in New York State in 1917 to Italian immigrant parents. When he was two, his family moved to Southern California, where he would grow up. But, he was often bullied because of his Italian heritage and lack of English fluency. He fought often and started smoking and drinking at a young age.
He attended Torrence High School, where his older brother Pete encouraged him to join the track team. Pete was already a track star and took Louis on training runs. Before high school, Louis regularly finished last in footraces among his buddies. After training with Pete, however, Louis started winning track races. He became passionate about training and diet, eventually winning the state championship in the mile. He was given a scholarship to run at the University of Southern California (USC).
While at USC, Zamperini tried out for the Olympic Trials in New York. His father worked for the railroad and got him a free ticket. Additionally, local businesses raised money for his travel expenses. He competed in the 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) on one of the year’s hottest days. At age 19, he finished tied for first with the American record holder and qualified for the 1936 Olympics. According to the U.S. Department of Defense profile on Zamperini, he remains the youngest American Olympic qualifier in the 5,000 meters.
On the boat ride to Germany for the 1936 Olympics, Zamperini gained 12 pounds from all the free food. (He lost 15 lbs training for the trials in the intense summer heat). At the Olympics, Zamperini ended up finishing 8th in the 5,000, the first American with a time of 14 minutes and 46 seconds. He finished the race with a strong kick on the last lap and caught the attention of Adolph Hilter, who invited Zamperini into his private spectator box to meet him. In a New York Times interview, Zamperini confessed he was pretty naive about world politics then and wanted a photograph with Hitler, who he found amusing for his looks and mannerisms like stomping his feet.
After the Olympics, he returned to USC and set the national collegiate record in the mile with a time of 4 minutes and 8 seconds. He earned the nickname the “Torrance Tornado.”
In 1941, Zamperini enlisted in the United States Army Air Force. He was stationed in the Pacific as a bombardier. In May 1943, he and 10 crew mates conducted a search for a lost aircraft. They left from Oahu, Hawaii, flying on a B-24 nicknamed the Green Hornet. Mechanical difficulties led to their search party crashing in the Pacific. Eight of the 11 men died.
Zamperini survived along with pilot Russell Allen Phillips and Francis McNamara. They survived on rainwater and raw fish. They caught birds that landed on their raft, like albatrosses, which they ate or used as fish bait. The five-foot-nine Zamperini went from 125 to 75 pounds. They fended off shark attacks with oars. They spotted a search plane but failed to be spotted. They endured storms and were shot at by Japanese aircraft. McNamara died after 33 days.
After 47 days at sea, Zamperini and Phillips landed on the Marshall Islands, which the Japanese occupied. They were held captive, beaten, and tortured for the next two years until the war ended. They lived in prison-of-war camps and were tormented by the prison guard Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe, later known as one of the most notorious Japanese war criminals. Zamperini wrote Italian food recipes to keep his mind and the minds of his fellow prisoners of war (POWs) off their poor living conditions.
After being lost at sea, the US government mistakenly announced him as killed in action. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent Zamperini’s parents a note expressing his condolences. Not until the war ended did his family and friends discover he was still alive. When he came back home, he received a hero’s welcome.
After returning home from the war, Zamperini experienced frequent nightmares about killing his former captors. He started drinking heavily to cope.
In 1949, his new wife, Cynthia, encouraged him to attend a Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles. He reluctantly agreed but was reminded of his prayers while stranded at sea and as a POW. He committed his life to Christ and started forgiving his captors. His nightmares stopped.
Zamperini stayed active into his 90s, skiing, running, mountain climbing, and even skateboarding.
In the years following Zamperini’s conversion to Christianity, Billy Graham helped him start a career as an evangelist. He focused much of his ministry on forgiveness. He visited many of the Japanese prison guards who tormented him to offer forgiveness. As a result, some became Christians. While in Japan for the 1998 Winter Olympics, Zamperini, at 81, attempted to meet with his greatest tormenter, “The Bird.” He refused to meet Zamperini, but Zamperini sent him a letter saying he forgave him.
Zamperini’s story has been discussed in fiction and nonfiction. In 2012, David John featured him as a character in the novel Flight from Berlin.
Zamperini penned two books about his life with different co-authors, first with Helen Itria in 1956 and then with David Rensin in 2003. Each book bears the same name: Devil at My Heels. Both books received positive responses from readers.
His story reached a new level of exposure in 2010, when Laura Hillenbrand wrote the #1 New York Times bestseller Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. It has sold over 4 million copies. As Itria and Rensin wrote Zamperini’s story from his perspective, Hillenbrand integrated various points of view. She interviewed the airmen who served next to Zamperini and the POWs who suffered with him. She also talked to the Japanese camp officials who presided over Zamperini and the family and friends who knew him well. And they allowed her to read through their diaries, memoirs, and letters from this time.
Hillenbrand’s Unbroken was made into feature films on two occasions. First, Angelina Jolie directed the 2014 movie Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie. The movie covers Zamperini’s life up until he returned from the war. It grossed over 160 million dollars worldwide. Unfortunately, Zamperini passed away on July 2, 2014, several months before its premiere. Zamperini’s son, Luke, shares about the film in a Crosswalk.com interview with Ryan Duncan.
In 2018, Harold Cronk directed Unbroken: Path to Redemption about how Zamperini’s faith in Christ helped his recovery from prisoner-of-war trauma. Luke spoke to Crosswalk.com’s Ryan Duncan about the 2018 film: “My dad had reason to hate his Japanese captors, much more than the Left and Right hate each other in this country. And he was able to forgive them and live a life of peace after this.”
A more factual look at Zamperini’s spiritual journey came in 2015 when the Billy Graham organization produced the documentary Captured by Grace. Crosswalk.com reviewer Debbie Hollaway discusses the movie, highlighting Zamperini's transformation from depression, alcoholism, and a marriage falling apart to giving his life to Christ, focusing on forgiveness, and becoming free of addiction.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/New_Folder
Nate Van Noord is from Detroit, MI, a graduate of Calvin University, and has taught high school history for many years. He loves to bike, run, and play pickleball, has been to about 30 countries, and is a three time winner of NPR's Moth Detroit StorySlam competitions.
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