January 9

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption
By Laura Hillenbrand

Seven years ago, I read a review of Unbroken in the NY Times Book Review. It sounded like a pretty interesting story, so I decided to listen to the audio version while taking a vacation day from work to sew some gifts for Christmas.  I was so taken by this true story of bravery and sacrifice that I finished the whole thing in a day.

In the mid-1930's Louis Zamperini, the son of immigrants in California, became known as the town troublemaker, but eventually he learned to put his considerable energy into running, becoming a member of his school's track team, and eventually qualifying for the US Olympic track team that competed in Berlin in 1936.  After the United States enters the 2nd World War, however, Louie becomes an airman assigned to the Pacific theatre.  In one harrowing event in 1943, his B-24 is shot down and crashes into the ocean.  This is the beginning of what would be a record 47 days on a raft, and only Louie and the pilot, Phil, survive the 7 long weeks in shark-infested waters before their raft.  Just when the men think relief is on the way, they discover they have washed up on the shore of an island with one of the harshest POW camps in Japan.  The men, especially the steadfast Louis, endure 2 years of harsh conditions under the leadership of a brutal, sadistic camp commander whom he calls "The Bird".  Eventually, the war ends, and Louie is rescued, though near death.  When he returns home, he meets and marries the woman of his dreams, but can't make peace with the ordeal he's been through.  Eventually, Cindy brings him to a Billy Graham crusade where he comes to see that the only way to peace is through forgiving his tormentor and receiving God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Louie returns to Japan years later, hoping to locate The Bird and tell him he's forgiven, but The Bird will not face Louie.  Still, it is enough for Louie to know he has released the burden of hate and found peace and forgiveness.  This is an amazing, completely victorious story.

Note: Louis published his own story, Devil at My Heels, back in 2003, but it was Hillenbrand's book that really made a sensation.