"Unbroken": Olympian, WWII POW, hero Louis Zamperini dies at 97

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Fox News: WWII hero, Olympian Louis Zamperini dies at 97http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/03/wwii-hero-olympian-zamperini-dies-at-7/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/03/wwii-hero-olympian-zamperini-dies-at-7/

An Olympic distance runner and World War II veteran who survived 47 days on a raft in the Pacific after his bomber crashed, then endured two years in Japanese prison camps, has died. Louis Zamperini was 97.

Among other things, Zamperini set the U.S. high school mile record while a junior in 1934 southern California, ran in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the 5,000 and, taken by surprise at the speed of the world-class runners, kicked it into high gear, running the last lap in an astonishing 56 seconds. He still finished only eighth.

Zamperini volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps to become a B-25 pilot, before WWII. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, his unit was sent to the South Pacific. In 1943, his plane was shot down and eight of the eleven crewmen perished. He and two others clung to a raft for 47 days in shark infested waters before being taken captive by the Japanese and spending two years in a prison camp, enduring torture throughout.

Laura Hillenbrand wrote a book about this remarkable man, and when the author, who also wrote Seabiscuit, was unable to take on the rigors of a book signing tour because of her chronic fatigue syndrome, Zamperini took over those duties for her -- at age 94.

One of the oldest of the Great Generation, a hero, a man of God, Louis Zamperini's greatest victory came through faith in Christ.

A huge, black-and-white photo of a young Graham preaching to thousands hung on the wall as Zamperini remembered his conversion to Christianity. He had returned from the war traumatized and depressed from the extreme abuse he endured, and he had turned to alcohol for relief. He initially resisted his wife’s suggestions that the pair attend Graham’s tent meeting, but he eventually relented.

Hillenbrand located the sermon Graham preached that October evening in 1949, and included the scene in Unbroken. As Zamperini battled anger and bitter memories of the hellish ordeal of war, Graham preached: “Here tonight, there’s a drowning man, a drowning boy, a drowning girl that is out lost in the sea of life.”

The next night, Zamperini returned to the tent, and Graham again preached the gospel of salvation from sin through faith in Christ. This time Zamperini responded. He and his wife both embraced Christ.

Godspeed Louie Zamperini.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Among other things, Zamperini set the U.S. high school mile record while a junior in 1934 southern California, ran in the 193 Berlin Olympics in the 5,000 and, taken by surprise at the speed of the world-class runners, kicked it into high gear, running the last lap in an astonishing 56 seconds. He still finished only eighth.

Zamperini volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps to become a B-25 pilot, before WWII. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, his unit was sent to the South Pacific. In 1943, his plane was shot down and eight of the eleven crewmen perished. He and two others clung to a raft for 47 days in shark infested waters before being taken captive by the Japanese and spending two years in a prison camp, enduring torture throughout.

One of the oldest of the Great Generation is gone. Godspeed Louie Zamperini.

Everyone should read the book, Unbroken, about him and his experiences in WW II and the most wonderful ending to the book.