Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - Essay Example

Module Module ID: Unbroken Published in Unbroken serves as a remarkable non-fiction story by renowned American authoress of contemporary era Laura Hillenbrand. The work is based upon the true life struggle made by the US army officer Louis Zamperini, who underwent severe humiliation and torture as prisoner of war (POW) at the hands of the Japanese administration after getting arrested in the Marshall lands in July 1943 (104). The author has, in a magnificent manner, elucidated the heroic deeds performed by the brave and dauntless American hero, which could be compared to the legendary soldier Odysseus of the ancient Greece, and the trials and challenges he faced are compared to Homer’s Odyssey, and even more intense and agonizing in nature. The author applauds the brave man, whose courage never wavered at the face of hardships during his captivity under the Japanese cruelties, as the Japanese personnel left no stone unturned to torture the POWs belonging to the USA in order to prove their hatred and abhorrence for the Americans. It was the time when the hostility and revulsion between both the countries was at its peak; consequently, the Japanese corps inflicted every type of atrocities on the American prisoners in order to take revenge of the losses Japan had suffered in men and material (129). Since Zamperini had refused to yield before the atrocious Japanese, the author calls her as the “unbroken one”, who can neither be bent, nor could be overcome by the enemy at any cost (4). Consequently, the struggle made by this legendary soldier, fills the hearts of the readers with feelings of loyalty and patriotism, and urges them to render services for the great name and fame of their motherland without surrendering before the mountains of hardships as well as series of difficulties on their way. The book reveals the perturbed state of affairs the world was undergoing in the aftermath of the UK’s declaration of war against Germany, which left indelible imprints of death, destruction, chaos and turmoil for the future decades to arrive. Commenced from the central Europe in 1939, the Great War II immediately captured the entire globe in its ugly and awkward fold. The war observed intensity day by day, and German-led Axis Alliance dominated the war. At last, British statesmen had to seek the support from the USA in order to combat with German and Japanese successive triumphs in the battlefields. Consequently, the USA arrived for the rescue of the Allies, and declared war against the Axis Powers in 1941. Instead to calming down the state of affairs, the US entry in the war aggravated the situation, and infuriated Japan to a great extent. As a result, they planned to break the backbone of the US military might by arranging surprise attacks on the American soil; the Japanese raid on the Pearl Harbor was also a part of the same campaign launched by the Japanese forces against the USA. It was the time when WWII was at its peak, and the European powers, including England, France, Denmark, Poland and their allies particularly the USA and USSR were determined to crush the political and military strength of the German-led Axis alliance at any cost. The same were the feelings of the Axis Powers, which would display their anger by announcing severest punishments to those belonging to the UK, France and their allies. Since Zamperini and his associate belonged to the USA, and were responsible for making plans of bombarding in the Japanese regions, the Japanese considered their atrocities as justified ones against the enemies of their country. The Japanese prisons guard Mutsuhiro Watanabe (1918—2003) played the most heinous role in this regards, and inflicted indescribable torments upon the POWs belonging to the USA and allies, whenever he got an opportunity for the same (142). Part II of the book leads the readers to the chronicle of events that paved the way towards Zamperini’s appointment as military official in 1941, and his departure over the Pacific as bombardier at B-24 during the war in 1943 (102). Zamperini and his colleagues set out their journey under the most untoward state of affairs, where death appeared to be dancing at every step they took during 5,000 miles per round rip. There were aerial combat and ground-based anti-aircraft fire, which were sufficient to startle the heart of a coward. Beyond those risks, B-24 crewmen worried whether their planes were reliable. The book reveals that the crew was consisted of eleven members before the plane was shot up by the Japanese anti aircraft machines. At the time when plane crashed, many men were still under training, which lost their lives subsequently. The plane, called Super Man, had received ninety four bullets from the Japanese aircraft firing machinery, which caused the same number of holes in the plane. Consequently, the plane caught fire, and was destroyed immediately, and only three persons from the crew could survive eventually. The surviving persons included the protagonist Louis Zamperini, the pilot, Russell Allen Phillips and the tail gunner, Francis McNamara. All the three received the order of searching out the debris of the plane B-4, and they set out to discover the same. From that moment, the real challenging struggle of the young officer takes a new turn, which would last for nearly two years and three months till the end of WWII and the victory of the Allies in August 1945. In the aftermath of the destruction of B 24, Zamperini, along with his companions set out to explore the debris of the plane. They had scarce quantity of food, with no water altogether; as a result, they would have to rely upon the rain water and albatross for survival of their lives (109). The corps would have to wander several miles a day in search of the debris, during which they would hunt the fish and take it raw in order to satisfy their hunger. It was the time when the young soldiers appeared to be as firm as rock for presenting greatest possible sacrifices in the name of their motherland; consequently, they carried on their endless journey without becoming the prey to unfavorable circumstances, as the danger of getting captured was hovering over their heads. (138). Being an old Olympian and winner of running competition, Zamperini was blessed with an untiring stamina, and looked more vigorous than his two companions. It is therefore he performs the duties of leader and tried to keep the morale of his team high. Somehow, McNamara would not survive for long, and died at thirty third day of their journey on foot after the crash of B 24. McNamara’s death was really a shocking incident for the remaining two officials, who would deprived of an experienced and loyal companion at the verge of difficulties and hard times. Nevertheless, the two survivors were determined to find a way of escaping from the Japanese soil, which apparently looked almost impossible. The long and continuous wandering near the Pacific without food and water had turned both of them sick and exhausted. Zamperini longed for reaching his motherland to join his family and friends as soon as possible. However, his wishes were mere hallucination, as they were arrested by the Japanese forces on the 47th day of the crash of B 24. The arrest and torture at the hands of the Japanese was a constant source of agony and humiliation for Zamperini. Instead of informing the Red Cross about the arrest of two US corps, the Japan forces concealed their arrest at their hands. Zamperini was taken to the notorious Naoetsu Prisons, where he was regularly battered and mentally tortured by the guards (167-8). The Japanese were aware of his identity as an old Olympian. Consequently, they forced him to accept their challenge of running in order to prove the superiority of the Americans over the Japanese. Since he was not properly fed, it was hard for him to win the race. However, the sheer feelings of patriotism infused new spark in him, and he frequently won the race against the Japanese. However, he had to face indescribable torture for winning the race, and was bludgeoned into unconsciousness. In addition, beri-beri wore him down, as did the guards sadistic attacks. And if he lost the race, the Japanese declared the Americans as the country of weak cowards, which were far inferior to the mighty Japanese nation (223). Zamperini had to endure oppressive heat and vermin during the summer season; while he was forced to lie on the ice without dresses in the chilly winter (241). He was rebuked, kicked and abused by the guards. However, he endured every cruelty with profound tolerance and bravery. By the end of the war, his life was hanging by a thread, and he would beg for death than a life of unflinching humiliation inflicted by the enemies of his nation on him. However, he survived with the hope of the end of the war and his subsequent release. The day came when the brutal US forces invaded Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs, compelling Japan to surrender by the mid of August 1945. The heroic deeds performed by the dauntless US corps are amazing and startling, which not only give the message of hope, courage and patriotism, but also teach the nations not to inflict cruelties and atrocities upon the hapless enemy just out of the feelings of revenge and hatred. The US forces repeated the same atrocities committed by the Japanese against the Americans; as the Americans inflicted the poor Vietnamese and Iraqis with shameless pains and sufferings, as the stories of the prisoners of Abu Ghuraib Prison of Iraq are far more heart-melting than the life story of Louis Zamperini. However, Zamperini’s struggle submits to state that fortune favors the brave, and the brave people serve as the most precious jewel in the crown of the nations at large. Work Cited Hillenbrand, Laura. “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption” Random House 2010 Read More