I mainly read classic stuff but my son gave me “Unbroken” for Christmas. I had never heard of it, nor of its subject, Louis Zamperini (RIP July of 2014), but this was the most stirring book of the year.
For those not familiar with his story (the movie recently came out, directed by Angelina Jolie): Zamperini was a juvenile delinquent in the 1930s until his older brother encouraged him to go out for track and field events. I believe he was the youngest American member of the track team at the Berlin Olympics. While he did not medal (I think he made 7th), his last lap was astounding and still talked about today. (Hitler even recognized his achievement, for what that’s worth).
Though he hoped to make the team the next Olympics, a little thing called WWII interfered. He joined the army but his plane went down in the Pacific. He and the pilot survived in a raft for a record-breaking 47 days with little food and no fresh water except for rain water, enduring attacks by sharks and by Japanese bombers.
And then…
Both men were captured by the Japanese and survived something like two years in a POW camp under the most brutal conditions. Apparently the movie (which I have not seen), left out Zamperini’s postwar struggles (drinking, losing untold amounts of money on failed business ventures and near-divorce) until a Billy Graham crusade prompted him to forgive his captors. He went on to carry the Olympic torch at the Nagano games, going near the POW camp where he was interred).
Since I finished reading it, I have often thought, “well, if Mr. Zamperini can endure what he did, surely I can do thus-and-so.” When I get annoyed at people for their little quirks, I often recall Mr. Zamperini’s forgiveness of his captors.
Be forewarned: the description of what he endured is graphic and brutal. (To be honest, I could not bring myself to read much of the POW camp portion). But Mr. Zamperini is my hero. May he rest in peace. (Had he lived, he would have been the Grand Marshal at the SuperBowl Parade this year.)
