Unbroken

I've wanted to write a review of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand since I read it back in December. I'm a bit behind, but I still remember the book very well, and better late than never, right?

Unbroken is a very powerful story and was by far my favorite book I read in 2014. Ultimately, it was a big reminder of the sacrifice so many men have made for our country. It was a huge eye opener of the brutally physical and mental suffering experienced by so many during WWII.

I shed several tears when I read this book. My heart ached and I couldn't understand how anyone could go through what these POWs' endured. I remember thinking the same thoughts I had when I read The Hiding Place, a story of Corrie Ten Boom who had survived living in a concentration camp. Why are some people so evil? How can they be so terribly cruel to hurt other human beings so?

But just just like Corrie Ten Boom's story, the incredible true story of Unbroken teaches about forgiveness and healing. It's another example of proof, that despite the darkness and evil in this world, there is a God whose hand is at work in the most impossible situations.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken is a true story about Olympian, Louis Zamperini from Torrance California, who dreamed of breaking the 4 minute mile. As a boy, he was constantly getting into trouble, stealing, getting into fights. His parents didn't know what to do to get him to stop. But when Louie was in high school, his brother made him join the track club. At first Louie didn't like running. But he soon began to win races and beat records. He soon went from the town trouble maker to the the town's pride and idol. They called him the "Torrance Tornado".

At the age of only 19, Zamperini qualified and competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics for the 5000 meter run. He finished 8th place, but his last lap was a speedy 56 seconds. Adolf Hitler was so impressed, he insisted on shaking Louie's hand. 

Louie worked hard on his running after the Olympics with a dream of running the mile in the 1940 Olympics that was to take place in Japan. Many, including his brother believed he could break 4 minutes and even win the Olympics at the rate he was going. 

But Louie's dreams were crushed when World War II broke out. In 1941 he enlisted in the US Army Corps and earned a commission as second lieutenant. He was deployed as a bombardier to the Pacific Island, Funafuti. In 1943, he was assigned on a rescue mission. The airplane due to mechanical problems, crashed in the middle of the ocean. Only three men survived...Louis Zamperini being one of them. 

After 47 days on the ocean with no food, the men were spotted and captured by a Japanese ship. Louie was now a Prisoner of War in Japan. There, he was held in several different POW camps, being beaten and brutally abused along with the many other prisoners in the camps. Many died of starvation or suffered from malnutrition and dysentery. Louie was especially tortured and severely beaten by a prison guard, Mutshiro Watanabe, also called by the POWs', the "Bird". 

When the war came to an end in 1945, the prisoners were released and sent home to their families. 

After Louie's return, he married Cynthia Applewhite. For four years he suffered post war trauma through nightmares of Watanabe. He began drinking heavily to try to forget his horrifying experience. But in 1949, he attended a Billy Graham evangelical crusade with his wife, and gave his life to Christ.

After that, he forgave Watanabe and all the other Japanese prison guards who had mistreated him and all the other POWs he had known. 

In the 1998 Olympics in Nagano Japan, four days before his 81st birthday, Louie Zamperini ran a leg in the lighting of the Olympic torch. Since he had become a born again Christian and learned how to forgive those who had abused and beaten him, Louie had lived a selfless and cheerful life to its fullest. 

He had become an inspiration speaker and spoke specifically on forgiveness.

After reading this book, my life has not been the same. I was crushed and horrified at reading about the pain that was afflicted on him and other POWs. But at the end I was so inspired at how God got him through and showed him grace.

Louie Zamperini recently passed away just this last July, 2014. He was an extraordinary man and has become such a model and inspiration in my life. I most definitely recommend this book! Yes, it's difficult to read at times, but I think it's important to open our eyes and be reminded of the men who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. It changed my life for the better and I hope it will do the same for you.

“The one who forgives never brings up the past to that person's face. When you forgive, it's like it never happened. True forgiveness is complete and total.” Louis Zamperini