I want to thank my daughter Anna for encouraging me to read the story of Louie Zamperini. She kept telling me that she was reading another book by Laura Hillenbrand that was very good. We both read Seabiscuit by Hillenbrand a few years ago. Later, Seabiscuit was made into a delightful movie.

The book Anna kept talking about was Unbroken, the story of American hero Louie Zamperini. Anna had two reasons for  wanting me to read the book. First, she wanted me to see what Zamperini and other POWs endured in Japanese prisoner camps.  She expected I would learn the second reason as I read.

Louie Zamperini participated in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. He was a free spirit and a rebellious young man. He climbed a flag pole and stole a Nazi flag and shook the hand of Adoph Hitler. It was widely expected that Louie would compete four years later and win olympic gold. Louie certainly believed that would be the case.

That never happened. Both the 1940 and 1944 olympics were canceled by world war. Soon Louie did what many famous Americans did–he signed up to defend America. As an American airman, he served in one of the most dangerous parts of military service. The chances of an America airman surviving the duration of the war were quite slim.

Early in the war Zamperini and his entire crew went down in the Pacific from enemy fire. Only three airman of the crew survived the crash, with one of those dying before they washed up on a Japanese held island. Louie Zamperini and his captain survived a record 47 days adrift at sea. Sharks, sun, dehydration, hunger, and thirst constantly plagued the men.

If that had been the end of the story, it would have been remarkable at that point. Unfortunately, Zamperini and thousands of other American prisoners of war suffered unmerciful and inhumane treatment. One particular officer treated the prisoners in ways deserving of war crimes. He made Louie his main target. At the end of the war the Japanese government charged the officer as a war criminal.  He was not apprehended until Japan had declared amnesty for its war criminals.

Click here to read a related story of heroism and leadership.

That’s where the second reason for reading came in. After years of nightmares, anger, depression, and alcoholism, Louis Zamperini accepted Jesus Christ at the Billy Graham Los Angeles Crusade in 1949. His redemption was as remarkable as his time at sea and in the POW camps. Louie Zamperini never got to compete in another olympics, but he did get the opportunity to forgive his war criminal tormenter. He also got to tell him about Jesus and encourage him to receive Jesus as Lord.

Today, I’m writing “The Remarkable Story of Louie Zamperini.” Tomorrow, I’ll write “The Amazing Difference Jesus Makes.”

Please read tomorrow’s post. It will be worth the time.

I write a devotional each day of the week. By subscribing at the top of the page, you can sign up for a daily reminder for each post. Please subscribe. It’s easy to do and completely free.