A phenomenally great book! Highly recommend this book. This is a biography of Louis Zamperini - really a remarkable man. He was kind of a scamp growing up. His brother took him under his wing in high school and encouraged him to expend his energies running. Louis becomes a great runner and makes it to the Olympics - held in Germany just before the start of WWII. When Pearl Harbor is bombed Louis signs up and becomes a bombardier flying in a B-24. Sent out on an assignment in the Green Hornet to look for another downed plane, they crash into the ocean. Only 3 survive the crash and Louis Zamperini is one of them. Two of the survivors manage to survive 47 days at sea with little rations and very little water. Sadly though they are not rescued by the Americans but are found by the Japanese. Phil and Louie become POWs. It is a remarkable story of courage, determination and survival. Often I have heard that the generation that fought in WWII was the greatest generation and this book really shows some of the reasons why - their courage and resilience - both on the part of those serving and those left at home to wonder and worry. It is heartbreaking to read what the POWs suffered through. Still, I think it is important to remember and to know so we can prevent this type of thing from happening again.
It is amazing that Louie survived and that he made it back to his family. Still he wasn't whole. He had flashbacks and began drinking. His wife - an amazing woman of great courage and conviction - convinced Louie (maybe badgered him) into attending a sermon by Billy Graham -- and it changed Louie's life. He became a Christian and devoted the rest of his life to serving God! This book is a must read! It is a great story.
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