American author and public speaker Dennis Prager once said, “Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.” Laura Hillenbrand’s biography Unbroken features World War II Air Force Bombardier, prisoner of war, and Olympic track runner: Louie Zamperini. This story demonstrates how Louie’s dependability helped him and others survive the horrid ocean, violent war camps, and the frightening aftermath of war.
From the first steps of Louie’s life, he unceasingly made a point of showing how much he could do for those that needed help and that he could take anything life threw at him. Coming from a foreign background, Louie
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Although these issues sound incredibly awful for a human being to endure, many of the men he helped along the way survived because of him. A member of the United States Air Force, the chance of crashing on a mission became inevitable, and Louie’s aircraft plunged into the ocean; a difficult decision soon faced him when a member of his crew was injured during the crash: “Louie knew that he had to get Phil’s bleeding stopped, but if he went to him, the raft would be lost and all of them would perish. He swam to the raft”(131). Louie’s fast actions and quick-witted solutions ultimately saved himself and his remaining crew from the danger-filled Pacific. For instance, Louie’s decision to rescue the raft from floating away ensured the men had some type of protection from the elements. He swam back quickly to aid Mac and Phil onto the raft, and then tended to Phil’s wound. In this example, Louie’s judgement played a huge part in gaining Phil’s trust Louie to accomplish the job he was unable to do: “He asked Louie to take command, and Louie agreed. / ‘I’m glad it was you, Zamp.’ Phil said softly”(132). In short, Louie’s friends could count on him, even if it meant risking his own life. In another example, Louie, once again, proved himself a dependable man. Sent to another POW camp, Louie gathered with the other soldiers out in the cold: “Louie saw a wooden apple box lying nearby. Remembering his Boy Scout friction-fire training, he grabbed the box and broke it up… The mat whooshed into flames. The men gathered close to the fire, and cigarettes emerged from pockets. Everyone got warmer”(235). Despite knowing the severe beating he could endure by the Japanese, Louie risked his own well-being to provide a basic comfort to his fellow soldiers. Tragically, the Japanese soldiers brutally attacked Louie for his ingenuity. Louie Zamperini’s intelligence and thoughtfulness