originally posted April 2018
Louis Zamperini is considered by many to be a hero, or at least to have done heroic deeds.
Louis’s story is truly remarkable.
The second movie about his life, Unbroken – Road to Redemption, is coming out October 5.
Here is the trailer to that movie.
I had the joy of being an extra in this film for a few of the Billy Graham tent scenes. I’m in the tent in a light grey suit, sitting on the edge of the aisle; you can see the back of my head really well.
But why is Louis a hero?
At a men’s meeting at our church several years ago, I listed some of Louis’s successful and unsuccessful moments and asked the men, what part about Louis’s life was heroic?
- Troubled youth chased by the police
- High school track star
- 8th place in the 5,000 at the 1936 Olympics in Germany
- Shook Hitler’s hand
- WW 2 Army Lieutenant, bombardier of a B-24 Liberator
- One of 3 survivors out of 8 crewmen when his plane crashed in the Pacific
- Survived floating in a raft for 47 days, a record at that time
- Became a POW for over two years where he was tortured and beaten most of the time
- The Japanese tried to use him as a propaganda tool against the US, but he refused
- After the war he had some celebrity status, he got married and had two children
- Became an alcoholic trying to deal with the PTSD from the torture and beatings
- Wife was going to leave him, but changed her mind after attending the LA Billy Graham Crusade
- Louis attended the crusade and became a Christian, and his PTSD nightmares ended.
- Louis then returned to Japan, where he forgave his Japanese prison guards for their beatings
- He went on to become a speaker and Evangelist
- He started Victory Boys Ranch in the ‘50’s to help incarcerated youth change their ways and forgive others
- He carried the Olympic Torch for the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, not far from the POW camp where he had been held.
- He died at age 97 on July 2, 2014
Well that’s a full life.
You could pick out any number of things to find as heroic.
What would be your choices?
The thing I found most heroic was that he realized he needed help with his PTSD, his alcoholism and his marriage. He needed a Savior. His first night at the Billy Graham tent, he left early because he didn’t want religion. The second night he went, he tried to leave again, but the stirring inside of him called him back, and he surrendered to the call and went forward. It’s a great scene in the movie. His nightmares were gone, and his marriage was back on track.
Of all the heroic things Louis did with his life and what he accomplished, the most heroic thing was to go back and forgive his captors!
Forgiveness is a heroic act!
I have read much about Louis, and I saw the first movie, titled “Unbroken.”
I’ve been privileged to connect with Luke and Lisa Zamperini (Louis’s son and daughter-in-law), and they got me in as an extra for the second movie coming out soon.
Royal Family KIDS is partnering with the Louis Zamperini Youth Ministries to bring Louis’s story of overcoming difficulties and forgiveness to the many foster children that we serve each year.
What makes a hero? Many things can make someone a hero, to me Louis is a hero because of his forgiveness.