Biography: Louis Zamperini: Known for the movie "Unbroken"

 Louis Zamperini, the character in the movie "Unbroken" was a real person.  He was born in New York but his family relocated to California when he was two.  His brother got him involved in track and field to keep him out of trouble.  He was a fighter and learned to be tough to counteract persecution due to his being Italian.  He took to middle distance running and eventually could out run his brother.  He set a highschool record in the mile and earned a scholarship to USC.  

When he was 19 he qualified for the Olympics in the 5000 meter run.  He is the youngest American runner to ever qualify in this event.

At the Olympics, 1936 Berlin, he placed eighth.  However he had the fastest recorded lap time, his final lap time was 56 seconds.  This caught the attention of Adolf Hitler who insisted on meeting him.  "Ah, you're the boy with the fast finish."

Zamperini continued his college career and set a collegiate record in the mile, 4 minutes 8.3 seconds, which stood for 15 years.  He earned the nick name "Torrance Tornado" the name of his high school.

After college he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force.  He was a second lieutenant and served as a bombardier aboard the B-24 Liberator bomber Super-Man.  In April 1943 His plane was badly damaged by three Zeros.  The made it back to base landing on a flat tire.  One crew man died in the attack and five were wounded.  594 bullet and fragment holes were counted and the plae was scrapped.  

They were reassigned to the "Green Hornet" a plane known as a lemon.  While on a search mission, due to mechanical issues, the plane crashed into the ocean.  Eight crew members were killed.  The three survivors were the pilot, Zamperini and another crew member who would die as they were adrift for 47 days with little food and water.  They finally landed on Marshall Islands and were quickly captured by the Japanese.  This began a more than two year period of torture.  Zamperini was especially singled out because of his status as an Olympic athlete.

He was released in August 1945 at the end of the war.  He then dealt with PTSD and hatred towards his captors.  He married, but became an alcoholic.  His wife almost divorced him.  However after attending a Billy Graham meeting, she changed her mind and encouraged him to also attend.  This saved him from his demons and began a period of healing and evangelism.

He has been the subject of three movies, and passed away in 2014; his wife in 2001.  He fathered a daughter and a son.