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Louie's Life
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Japanese Involvement in WWII
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Escape the Draft
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-imposes-the-draft In September of 1941, congress enacted a draft bill. "Those who enlisted prior to being drafted could choose their service branch. In early 1941, Louie joined the Army Air Corps." -
Louie Graduated from Midland
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbm02 Louie graduated from Midland Army Flying School in Midland, Texas and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. -
One Last Photo
The Zamperinis gathered on their doorstep for their last family photo before Louie's deploment. -
Super Man Flew Away
Phil's crew climed aboard the Super Man for the first time, and embarked on their journey over the Pacific. -
Super Man Attacked the Wake Islands
Louie and his crew, along with 25 other crews, attacked the newly found base on Wake Atoll. "In the biggest raid yet staged in the Pacific War, the AAF was going to burn the base down," and that is exactly what they did. -
America Bombed Naru
The plane was shot at by Zeros, leaving the crew injured. The plane's system was failing, and Phil was forced to cautiously fly the plane to Funafati, 5 hours away, where he would make an emergency landing without any breaking systems. The plane was left with 594 holes, and it was a miracle the crew survived. -
Japan Bombed Funafati
After overhearing a radio transmission, the Japanese learned that men were based on Funafati. They bombed the whole island leaving craters everywhere. The men were forced to hide in the water, fox holes, and huts until fire ceased. -
Phil's Crew Goes Missing
Phil's crew "volunteered" to hunt for Clarence Corpling's missing B-24. The unstable Green Hornet's left engine gave out at a height of 800 feet, causing the plane to plummet into waters 200 miles north of Palmyra. Phil, Mac, and Louie were the only survivors of this tragedy. This began the crew's journey lost at sea. -
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Phil, Mac, and Louie Lost at Sea
The crew was left with few rations, and floated on a tiny raft at sea for almost two months. Mac dies upon the raft before the crew ever find land. -
Land Ho!
After being lost at sea for 47 days, Phil and Louie caught sight of Wotie Island on July 14th. It was impossible to avoid detecion by the Japanese, so they were taken hostage and brought to the island of Kwaljein, also known as execution island. The men were surprised to learn that they had both lost roughly 100 pounds and had developed various illnesses. The men were interrogated and thrown into cells where they would remain for a little over a month. -
Phil and Louie Transferred to Ofuna
Phil and Louie were then transferred to Ofuna, a secret, high-intensity interrogation camp for prisoners of special intrest. They were not listed as POWs, so no one knew of their whereabouts or if they were even alive. While there, Louie discovered that an old college acquaintance Jimmie Sasaki, worked as a Japanese informer, and had been since their college days. Sasaki was able to show Louie some mercy in the midst of all his torture and slave labor. -
Transferred Yet Again
Louie, along with other men, was transferred to Omori, a POW camp outside of Tokyo. It is here that Louie met, Mutsuhiro Watanabe, also known as "The Bird," "the man who would dedicate himsef to shattering him." Prisoners here often died of abuse, however Louie was kept alive to be used as propaganda over the radio (which he would not find out until later). -
Broadcasting Back Home
Louie made a broadcast on the “Japanese Postman” program in hopes of his family hearing it. The broadcast just stated that he was still alive, harmless- he thought. The Japanese soon began to urge Louie, famous Olympian, to give propaganda-based broadcasts in return for better living conditions. He refused and was soon sent off to yet another POW camp. -
The Bird Flys Away
The Bird was ordered to leave Omori after accusations of excessive brutality. "At Omori, the reign of terror was over." -
Reunited with the Bird
Louie arrived at Naoetsu, only to discover that the Bird's "punishment" was being transferred here and promoted to sargeant. Naoetsu was filthy and freezing, and POWs were used as slave laborers in factories and on farms. After getting injured Louie wasn't able to preform this type of work, and his new job was to look after the camp pig and clean it's pen with his bare hands. In order to escape starving, he ate the pigs feed when no one was looking. -
Free at Last!
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day "The war has come to a point of cessation." The men were weary and apprehensive to believe this news. American planes began to deliver parachutes of supplies to the prisoners, and awaited their departure back home. (Official Japanese agreement to surender was announced August 14th) -
Louie Arrived Back Home
"This, this little home was worth all of it."
