Louie

Louis Zamperini

By ihes53
  • Was Born

    Was Born

    Louis Silvie Zamperini was born to Italian immigrant parents on January 26, 1917
  • Starts Drinking and smoking

    Starts Drinking and smoking

    Drinker at age 8 and a smoker at age 5

  • Runs track

    In 1934, Zamperini set the national high school mile record, and his time of 4 minutes and 21.2 seconds would stand for an incredible 20 years.
  • meets Hitler at the Olympics

    meets Hitler at the Olympics

    Tries to swipe a Nazi flag as a sovenir
  • Louis Qualifies for the 1936 Olyimpics

    Louis Qualifies for the 1936 Olyimpics

  • Louis places 8th in the 1936 Olyimpics

    Louis places 8th in the 1936 Olyimpics

  • War starts

    With the outbreak of World War II, the 1940 Olympics were canceled

  • lasts 47 days at sea

  • crashes in the B-24 bomber "Green Hornet"

    crashes in the B-24 bomber "Green Hornet"

  • A Japanese bomber find Louis and takes him to a P.O.W. camp

    A Japanese bomber find Louis and takes him to a P.O.W. camp

  • Louis is transferred to the Omori POW camp

    Louis is transferred to the Omori POW camp

  • Holds a beam while being tortured for 37 minutes

    Zamperini was pummeled with clubs, belts, and fists, and on one occasion, was ordered to hold a heavy wooden beam over his head. He lasted 37 minutes before passing out.

  • The Japanese tried to use him as a propaganda tool.