"Unbroken - A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption"

"Unbroken - A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" is the first book by Laura Hillenbrand that I have read but I hope to read many more.  She has done an excellent job through research and personal interviews telling the story of Louis Zamperini.

Louis is described as an "incorrigible" delinquent whose life changed forever when he took up running and discovered a talent that took him to the Berlin Olympics.  World War II found him becoming an airman who was on an Army Air Force bomber that crashed into the Pacific Ocean.  There were three survivors but only two survived against all odds drifting around on a life raft for much longer than seemed possible to survive.

When the final two survivors reached land they were taken prisoner by the Japanese and expected to be executed -- which appeared to be the fate of the men whose names were carved in wood before them.  However, unknown to him, Zamperini was kept alive to be used later for propaganda purposes and he believes the other survivor was not executed to make Zamperini more cooperative.

What follows is the cruel and inhumane punishments that he and other prisoners of war and others experienced under the Japanese.  It is unbelievable to me (after reading this account) that anyone survived.  One of the things Louis learned is that "degradation could be as lethal as a bullet."

Surviving to come home didn't mean coming home intact, though -- physically or emotionally.  Louis suffered from nightmares and took up drinking that almost cost him his marriage.  All that changed, though, when Louis' wife convinced him to attend a couple of Billy Graham revival meetings with her.  Finally, he was able to get rid of the nightmares, forgive his captors, and give back - just as he'd promised he'd do if he survived the lifeboat odyssey.

The above is such a brief account of a remarkable story and a remarkable life that it doesn't do it justice.  I urge you to read the book.

My wish -- that there be no more wars and no one ever has to suffer torture, bombings or death at the hands of their "enemies."  Why can't we realize we are all one and what we do to others we also do to ourselves!  pazt