Louis Zamperini
| Louis Zamperini | |
|---|---|
Zamperini at the May 2014 announcement of the 2015 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal
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| Birth name | Louis Silvie Zamperini |
| Born |
January 26, 1917 Olean, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2014 (aged 97) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army Air Forces
|
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 372nd Bombardment Squadron, 307th Bombardment Group |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (4) Prisoner of War Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Cynthia Applewhite (m. 1946–2001; her death) |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Louis Silvie Zamperini |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
January 26, 1917 Olean, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2014 (aged 97) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 132 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track, Long-distance running |
| Event(s) | 1500 meters, 5000 meters |
| College team | USC |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) |
1500 meters: 3:52.6 Mile: 4:08.3 5000 meters: 14:46.8 |
Louis Silvie "Louie" Zamperini (January 26, 1917 – July 2, 2014) was a US prisoner of war survivor in World War II, a Christian evangelist and an Olympic distance runner.
Zamperini took up running in high school and qualified for the US in the 5000m race for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He finished 8th in the event and made the record for the fastest last lap in 56 seconds. In 1941 he was commissioned into the United States Army Air Forces as a Lieutenant. He served as a bombardier in B-24 Liberators in the Pacific. On a search and rescue mission, mechanical difficulties forced Zamperini's plane to crash in the ocean. After drifting at sea for 46-47 days (island spotted on the 46th, and arrived on 47th) he landed on the Japanese occupied Marshall Islands and was captured. He was taken to a prison camp in Japan where he was tortured. Following the war he initially struggled to overcome his ordeal. Later he became a Christian Evangelist with a strong belief in forgiveness. Zamperini is the subject of two biographical films, the 2014 Unbroken and the 2015 Captured by Grace.
Zamperini was born January 26, 1917 in Olean, New York, to Anthony Zamperini and Louise Dossi, both native to Verona in Northern Italy. He had an older brother named Pete and two younger sisters, Virginia and Sylvia. He was raised in a strict Catholic household. The family moved to Torrance, California, in 1919, where Louis attended Torrance High School. Zamperini and his family spoke no English when they moved to California, making him a target for bullies. His father taught him how to box in self-defense. Soon he claimed to be "beating the tar out of every one of them." He added, "but I was so good at it that I started relishing the idea of getting even. I was sort of addicted to it."
To stop him from getting into trouble, his older brother Pete got Zamperini involved in the school track team where Pete was already a star. Pete took Louis on training runs. At the end of his freshman year, he finished 5th in the All City C-division 660-yard (600 m) dash.
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