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Birth
Louis Zamperini was born on January 26, 1917, in Olean, New York. His parents were Anthony and Louise, who were both born native to Verona, Italy. He had an older brother, Pete, and two younger sisters, Virginia and Sylvia. -
Childhood
Louis Zamperini was always on the go. He never sat still, even if that meant he was doing something bad. He was a delinquet, and stole, drank, smoke, and broke into different places. -
An Intervention
In 1931, after Louis broke into the gym at his school and let people into basketball games for free, he was finally caught. His older brother, Pete, decided he needed to do something to help him. He decided that Louie would be perfect for track, and so he began training him. -
The Next Year
He trained all through the past year and came back for track during his tenth year to redeem himself. He beat his brother's previous 880-yard race by more than two seconds. He clocked a mile at 5:03 and by the end of April, he brought it down to 4:42. -
Graduation
Louis graduates from high school in December of 1935. He began to set his sights on the Olympics in Berlin, set to be in 1936. -
Trying to Get to the Olympic Trials
Desperate to get into the Olympics, he competed in a race that would determine who would continue to the trials. He injured his foot but came in third, meaning he had qualified to proceed. -
The Start of the Trials
His family saw him off at the train station where he would travel to New York. At the final trial, he tied with the famous runner, Don Lash. They first announced he won, then they announced Lash won, and then the finish was deemed a tie. It didn't matter, they were both going to Berlin. -
The Olympics
Louis traveled to the Olympics in Berlin, where he enjoyed himself on the boat that brough him there. He drank and stole once he reached Berlin, and made many friends. He came in 8th place in the 5,000 meter race. He set his eyes on first place for the next Olympics, set to be held in Toykyo, Japan. -
Continuing to Train
Louis set his sights on the gold in the Olympics that would be held again in four years. He trained relentlessly and won first place in every race he enetered. He worked hard to break the four minute mile, and made it as close as 4:08. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, officially forcing the US to enter World War II. The draft was enacted and Louis was drafted into the air corps. -
The Super Man Crashes
The plane, Super Man, crashes on their way from Canton to Kualoa. They then switch planes, going onto the Green Hornet, but that one is shot down. Only Louie, and two of his crew mates, Phil and Mac, survive. -
Their Time at Sea
The crew remains in the ocean on a raft for 46 days, with no food and only the water around them to drink. They were stranded, shot at, burnt by the sun, and circled by sharks. Mac ends up passing away, but Louie and Phil survive. They wash up on an island, which is run by the Japanese. They become POWs. -
POW
Louie is shipped from camp to camp, being forced to work and tortured along the way. A prison guard known at Mutshiro Watanabe, also known as the Bird, was one who targeted Louie specifically and did everything in his power to see him suffer. -
Released and Reunited
Louie is finally released from the prison camp and after a few weeks of traveling around, is reunited with his family at Long Beach airport. -
Louie and Cynthia are Married
Louie marries Cynthia Applewhite, and they have one son, Luke, and one daughter, Cissy. -
Billy Graham Comes to Los Angeles
This man helped Louie overcome his PTSD and alcoholism. Louie attended one of his gatherings and found faith, helping him to forgive all of those who helped him with the war. -
Louie Carries the Olympic Torch
In 1998, Louie carried the Olympic torch past Naoetsu, the place where he was imprisoned close to fifty years ago, at the time. He said that it gave him such a strong sense of closure. -
The Bird Dies
The Bird actually dies on this day, without ever seeing Louie again. It was believed that he had killed himself after the war, but he did not and evaded capture my the government for his involvement with the war. -
Death
Louis Zamperini died on July 2, 2014 in Los Angeles. His death was caused by pneumonia. He died at the age of 97.