Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption - Essay Example

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption SCENES Early life as immigrants School life and olympics involvement-1934 Entry into the air force-1941 The crew first mission to Wake Atoll-1942 Life in the camp and the fateful mission The 40-days in the pacific The capture by the Japanese Return to America Early life as immigrants The scene is an introduction to the early life of Louis Zamperini as him and his family settle in the US as immigrants.It features a young man Louis Zamperini life story from his early years as a boy through his school life, his experience in the armed forces and his after years of recovery. Born in 1917 as the son of Antony and Louise Zamperini, the couple and the young Zamperini find themselves settling as immigrants in California to a neighbourhood that did not want an Italian family. As a child, he faces a pneumonia that leaves his lungs compromised and his stature small. School life and olympics involvement-1934 The scene provides some insights into the early struggles of Louie and his Spirit of fortitude to overcome. Despite the sickness, Louie beats the odds and becomes an accomplished athlete in his school days. It was while in school that he met Glenn Cunningham who becomes his mentor. Louis puts all his efforts in the sports and soon starts breaking a record becoming the fastest high school miler in 1934.He goes on to become the youngest distance runner in the Olympic team, qualifying in the 5k trial against some of the best in the sports he set his sight in Berlin Olympics in 1936 (Oney). At the Olympics, however, he could not match the Finnish runners who seemed more experienced and technically superior to Louei finishing in seventh position. No sooner, had he set his sight on the 1940 OlympicGames than two countries, Germany, and Japan began to exert pressure on nations. Entry into the air force-1941 The following year 1941,saw Louie join the air corps service on a crew as a bomber into the world war 11 operations. Life for him is relatively calm with no demanding duties at that time until December while at the Pacific theatre when the Pearl Harbor was bombed. Japan eventually conquers many territories leading to America’s entrance into the war. Louie together with other men was to go for bomb raids. The pilot to the crew was Phillip Allen and together with others made up crew no.8 in the 372nd bomb squadron of the 307th Bomb group, seventh Air Force. His duty included operating his position with the NordenSight; that would assume the flight of the plane, calculate the target angle, and drop a bomb at the best moment (Hillenbrand 17). Life in the camp The scene provides a deep insight into the real life experiences in the camp as bomber. It includes conversations between Luie and the rest of the crew as they familiarize with each other and the team leaders efforts to build an effective team. The crew’s first mission came in December 1942, which was to dismantle the Japanese base of Wake Atoll, which they did successfully. Many men were lost in the trainings and missions including many of Louie’s friends. The fear of flying planes was life as their lives were constantly threatened by enemy fire,technological complications,flying and air accidents, bad weather, inequalities, and oppression, lack of enough provisions on life rafts,dangerous sharks and unplanned hurried search and rescue efforts. It was in the year 1943 while, on a raid of Nauru, the Japanese squad of zeroes heavily attacked the crew though they managed to land on the island of Funafuti (Oney). The Japanese later bombed the island, but Zamperini and Louie were able to survive the attack by hiding in a bomb shelter. The 40-days in the pacific The conversation centres on the crews efforts to save the plane from the eventual crash as well in the quest to get to the dry land after the crash. The crew is reassembled at a base in Oahu, and sent on a rescue mission in a poorly built plane called green Hornet. Due to the poor state of the plane, the team encounters engine failure on the left side of the plane. Phil and his co-pilot Cuppernell tries to right the plane, but it crashes in the sea.Louie and and two other crew members found their way and spend over 40 days in the sea,trying to survive on sea fish and birds for food.However,one of them could not make it and died on the way. (Hillenbrand 38).During the time, they were able to harness rainwater using makeshift containers, they defended themselves from sharks, including a great white that leaped at the raft.They endured the scorching sun, wind, and weather. They encountered heavy enemy fire from a Japanese plane and struggled to repair the holes in the rafts. They suffered the loss of one of them, Mac, who died before their eyes. They were finally able to conquer the hardships and trauma that comes with losing bearing in the sea (Oney). The capture by the Japanese The scene is an indication of the brutal treatment in the hands of the Japanese, with rare conversation glimpses due to language barrier. Louie and Phil who were the survivors were almost nearing the edge of the sea they fell into the hands of the Japanese army. They remained silent over the arrests, which resulted to him declared dead in America. That was not the case with the family, however, in California who remained hopeful that he would return home alive.The captured men were well treated as they recoved in the hospital. However, they were moved away to a prison camp where they expected to be murdered.Due to his fame as an Olympic runner, Zamperini was subject to harsh treatment by the guards. He moves to a number of camps before going to Tokyo where he encountered more harsh treatment in the hands of a guard called the Bird. The Japanese tried to use propaganda by attempting to force Zamperini into propagating Japanese propaganda to America, but his refusal to comply meets severe punishment (Hillenbrand 68). Return to America Zamperini remained in the Japanese prison camps in Tokyo until the American forces dropped Atomic bombs in Japanese grounds. Due to tight security and isolation, the prisoners were not updated about the news and had little or no information concerning the war. The guards would however become the informants letting them know that the war was over. Louis moves to hospital for medical check-up and treatment before his release and sent home to Torrance. His return is met with great delight and jubilation from his family members. However, his life at home had its share of problems. Firstly, he entered into marriage with a woman whom he only knew for two weeks. Due to the mistreatment and harsh beatings he encountered in the hands of the bird, he was constantly in remembrance of the harsh treatment in his dreams. The result was indulgence in alcohol, as he started drinking uncontrollably which did not go well with his newlywed wife who then sought to have a divorce and lead separate lives. Zamperinis turn around came during a tour to one of revival meetings by evangelist Billy Graham in one of his crusades. He was able to save his marriage, which was on the brink of breaking, stopped drinking, and was eventually set free from his nightmare. He became a motivational speaker making regular appearances telling his story. Louie was eventually able to forgive the bird for all the brutality. Zamperini had for sometime thoughtthat the bird killed himself. He later found that he was actually on the run escaping the authorities for his crimes. After discovering that the Bird was still alive, Louie tried to arrange a meeting with him, and though he traveled all the way to Japan, the Bird refused to meet him (Hillenbrand 34). At the heart of the film is one Louie Zamperoni born in 1917 to Italian immigrants parents who moved to California when Louis was still a boy. As a youth, he frequently found himself in trouble for stealing and playing pranks. Eventually, he finds himself in the danger of dropping out of school and going into the world of crime. He beats the odds and challenges in his childhood years, overcoming pneumonia that had the potential to cripple his life. He goes on to become an accomplished runner being among the best in his field while in school after being encouraged by his older brother Pete to join the track team. He eventually finds himself involved in the World War 2 with a band of several men. As a bomber, he represents his country in the war and although he faces a tough time in the battlefield; they eventually emerge victoriously with the bombing and eventual defeat of Japan by the United States. Pete, Louie’s brother, plays a key role in his early life. He lobbied for his brother to join the sports to improve his focus where he goes to become one of the greatest. One of the key members of crew no.8 was Russell Allen Phillips also known as Phil and was a pilot. Phil and Louie become the survivors of the crash who fell in the hands of their captors before their rescue. Hillenbrand, Laura. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. New York, NY: Random House Publishing Group, 2010. Print. Oney, Steve . “Laura Hillenbrand Tells the Story of Louis Zamperini in Unbroken.” The Wall Street Journal, 12 November 2010. Web. 05 Nvember 2014 Read More