Biography louis zamperini

American athlete and army officer (1917–2014)

"Zamp" redirects here.

Biography louis zamperini

For the Croatian profession organization, see Croatian Composers' Society.

Louis Silvie Zamperini (January 26, 1917 – July 2, 2014) was an American World War II veteran, an Olympic distance runner and a Christian evangelist.

He took up running in high school and qualified for the United States in the 5,000 m race for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, finishing 8th while setting a new lap record in the process.

Zamperini was commissioned in the United States Army Air Forces as a lieutenant.

He served as a bombardier on B-24 Liberators in the Pacific.

Louis zamperini autograph

On a search and rescue mission, his plane experienced mechanical difficulties and crashed into the ocean. After drifting at sea on a life raft for 47 days, with two other crewmates, Zamperini landed on the then Japanese Marshall Islands and was captured.

He was taken to a total of four different prisoner-of-war camps in Japan, where he