July 7, 2014 7:49 AM

Louie Zamperini: For whom the "Greatest Generation" should have been named

The government announcement of Louis Zamperini’s death in World War II made headlines. Zamperini was the “Torrance Tornado,” the tough kid turned track star who set a national high school record for running the mile. In 1936, he was known as “The Zamp,” the 18-year-old USC standout who ran at the Berlin Olympics, where his roommate was Jesse Owens. In 1943, he was Lt. Zamperini, a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator, who, along with 10 other crew members, fell off the map on a May 27 mission over the Pacific. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent his parents a formal condolence note in 1944, he had no idea that Zamperini was still alive and living a nightmare in a Japanese prison camp. For 47 days, Zamperini had drifted on a life raft, fighting off sharks and starvation with two other crew members, one of whom died. Picked up by a Japanese patrol boat, the two survivors were beaten, tortured and humiliated for more than two years.

A year or so ago, I read “Unbroken,” the story of Louie Zamperini. It was one of the most amazing and inspirational works of literature I’d ever read, and yet I found myself embarrassed. I was a history major, and I pride myself on my knowledge of and familiarity with our history…and yet I knew little about Zamperini. Given the life he led and what he endured, that lack of familiarity with him felt almost criminal. I’ve studied the WWII era a lot over the course of my life, but Louie Zamperini’s story- something all Americans should be intimately familiar with- is one whose stunning details I’d largely missed.

In a just world, Zamperini, the “Torrance Tornado,” would be remembered as the greatest distance runner and most decorated Olympic champion of all time. He likely would have set records that might well still be standing today; he was just that gifted. He was unfortunate enough to come into the prime of his running career during WWII, and when his country called, he answered like millions of other Americans. The next few years was a tale of horror and suffering no mere words could possibly hope to convey. Shot down by a Japanese plane, Zamperini survived and floated in a life raft for 47 days. He was still alive, but the US Government declared him dead.

Interred in POW camps by the Japanese, who considered prisoners to be traitors and less then human, Zamperini survived what many of his compatriots could not. Once rescued and returned to the US, the transition back to civilian life was beyond traumatic. Somehow, Zamperini found the strength to put the past in its place and live a life looking forward instead of dwelling on his torture and suffering. I often find myself wondering if I could have reacted as he did and lived a life without anger and the desire for recrimination. I’m not so certain that I would have had the strength to do it as he did.

After the war, Zamperini was told by an Army superior that his raft trip qualified him for $7.60 a day in reimbursement. But someone higher up in the command nixed it: “Request denied,” the letter said. “Travel unauthorized.”

Somehow, Louie Zamperini managed to live a life almost completely overlooked by a country that should have elevated him to hero status. Despite what he’d endured and the service he’d rendered his country, after WWII Zamperini faded into the background and was largely forgotten…and he carried on. Though he had every right to be bitter and angry, Zamperini survived and persevered, becoming one of the most positive people you’d ever encounter.

Zamperini died on Wednesday at 97. You may not realize it- most Americans don’t- but America lost one of the greatest of the “Greatest Generation.” If you have the opportunity, I’d highly recommend reading “Unbroken.” Besides being a well-written and fascinating story chronicling Zamperini’s life, it portrays in vivid detail the suffering and privation he endured…all while the country he fought for considered him to be dead. Not only did he suffer in ways no mere mortal could begin to comprehend, he returned to a country that had largely forgotten him. Unfortunately for Zamperini, he continued to be overlooked…and yet he still somehow managed to find peace and lead a long and productive life.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not certain I’d be able to do the same thing under similar circumstances.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on July 7, 2014 7:49 AM.

So you're wondering how "religious freedom" works? was the previous entry in this blog.

This is why I love "Cards Against Humanity" is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 6.0.2