“Without dignity, identity is erased. In its absence, men are defined not by themselves, but by their captors and the circumstances in which they are forced to live.”–Lauren Hillenbrand, Unbroken
Louis Zamperini, former Olympic runner turned WWII bombardier, was shot down over the Pacific in May 1942. He and two crewmates survived but found themselves surrounded by thousands of miles of open ocean, storms, sharks, starvation, and thirst. Zamperini thought life couldn’t get much worse but then it did. After drifting on a life raft for 47 days, they landed on the Japanese controlled Marshall Islands and were captured.
Zamperini was taken to four different Japanese prisoner of war camps where he was brutally tortured and beaten, largely because of his status as a famous Olympic runner. He was not released until the war ended. As a result of the trauma he endured, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and became an alcoholic. With his life spiraling downward, he became acquainted will Billy Graham and became a devout Christian evangelist with a strong belief in forgiveness. He later devoted his life to helping at risk youth.
This is an incredible story that is often hard to read as Zamperini recounts the torture and beatings he endured, largely at the hands Matsuhiro Watanabe, one of the 40 most wanted war criminals in Japan. It is also inspirational as Zamperini is able to find peace and healing through his faith. Laura Hillenbrand is a gifted writer and she writes a riveting narrative that extols the resiliency of the human spirit, mind, and body.
Content Advisory: Torture, beatings, alcoholism, domestic abuse