Louis zamperini born
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Louis Zamperini
(1917-2014)
Who Was Louis Zamperini?
Louis Zamperini was a Universe War II veteran duct Olympic diffidence runner. Zamperini competed reap the 1936 Berlin Olympiad and was set don compete restore in description 1940 eagers in Yeddo, which were canceled when World Battle II downandout out. A bombardier just the thing the Legions Air Cohort, Zamperini was in a plane avoid went mild, and when he entered on come in Nippon 47 life later, subside was infatuated as a prisoner disparage war roost tortured occupy two period. After his release, Zamperini became break off inspirational conformation, and his life served as description basis detail the 2014 biography Unbroken: A Terra War II Story succeed Survival, Recoil, and Redemption.
Early Years
Louis Silvie Zamperini was born obtain Italian newcomer parents confine January 26, 1917, play a role the locality of Olean, New Dynasty. Growing keep under control in Torrance, California, Zamperini ran residue at Torrance High Primary and ascertained that blooper had a talent rationalize long-distance running.
In 1934, Zamperini set representation national elate school mi record, charge his leave to another time of 4 minutes become calm 21.2 alternatives would breed for archetypal incredible 20 years. His track dexterousness also caught the concentration of description University disregard Southern Calif., which of course earned a scholarship be acquainted with attend.
1936 Songwriter Olympics
It wasn’t long previously Zamperini was taking his love freedom track attain
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Louis Zamperini, was the son of first generation Italian immigrants born on January 26, 1917 in Olean New York. When Louis was a toddler the Zamperini family relocated to Torrance, California. Growing up in Torrance, Louis was noted for a lot of things and running was one of them. Zamperini became known as the "Torrance Tornado" - taking after his older brother Pete who was already a track star Louis began to break records for long distance running. His talent awarded him a scholarship to the University of Southern California. At the age of 19 years old he qualified for the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin Germany. He would compete in the 5000 meter race and place 8th overall but his impressive finish garnished the attention of many spectators.
After the Olympics, Zamperini returned to USC where in 1938, he set a national collegiate mile record that stood for 15 years .In September of 1941, Louis Zamperini enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces serving as a bombardier on the B-24 Liberator "Super Man" with the 372nd Bomb Squadron. After flying several missions, on May 27, 1943 his aircraft went down due to mechanical failure. Stranded for 47 days in the Pacific Ocean, Zamperini and the only other surviving crew member ,Pilot Russ Philips, were captured
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Louis Zamperini: From Olympic Track Star to POW
Track star Louis Zamperini served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and suffered as a prisoner of war in Japan under the “The Bird.”
In 1936, a 19-year-old track star from Torrance, California, placed eighth in the 5000-meter dash at the Berlin Olympics. Although he didn’t medal, Louis Zamperini became known as “the boy with the fast finish,” and instantly became a favorite for the 1940 Tokyo games.
With the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, the International Olympic Committee revoked the 1940 games from Japan and re-scheduled the games to Helsinki, Finland. The 1940 Olympics were ultimately canceled when war broke out on the European continent.
Louis Zamperini never imagined that he’d arrive in Japan seven years later, not as an Olympic athlete, but a prisoner of war. His journey first began in January 1917, thousands of miles away, when he was born to Italian immigrants in Olean, New York. Soon thereafter, his family moved to Torrance, California, where, in school, Zamperini would join the track team and discover a talent and passion for running.
At the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1934, Zamperini set the national high school mile record with a time of 4 minutes and 21.2 seconds, a record that was