The road to success isn’t easy. Hard work, dedication and struggling is the only way to get there. Although there will be ups and downs you will be able to be the best you can be. Louie Zamperini started off as a bad kid, but with hard work and dedication Louie became an American hero.

Louie Zamperini was born on January 20, 1917 in Orleans. His parents were Italian immigrants. (2)Louie’s childhood was not always good. In fact, he struggled a lot during his childhood. He started doing drugs, smoking, and stealing before he was ten years of ageld. His brother on the other hand was a very good student and child. His brother, Pete, encouraged Louie to run because it would keep his mind off of all the bad thing he has done. Pete was correct, he stopped doing drugs, stealing, and smoking. In fact, Louie was an amazing runner.(1) He broke a high school record for running the mile, his time was 4:21.2. Zamperini was such a good runner that he made the Olympics.(2) According to The National Archives, “Yet as Zamperini came closer to the 4 minute mile, the US came closer to war. There would be no Olympics in 1940. Zamperini was forced to forego running for a career in military.”(3)

As Louie continued to fix his life, he joined the military.(1) Louie helped with many things in the military. One day in May 1943, he and his crew went searching for a missing plane. On their quest their plane went down. The planed crashed over the ocean and, eleven people in his crew died. Mac, Phil, and Louie were the 3only survivors(3). On the first day Mac ate all their food so Louie had to start killing sharks with his bare hands. After thirty three days Mac passed away. .Louie and Phil set the record on staying alive in the ocean, they lasted forty seven days. One day when he was on the river Louie made a promise to God., Tthe promise was 'isf you can help me survive I will worship you forever'. After, forty seven days at sea the Japanese captured them and brought them to their POW camp. A POW camp is a camp for (prisoners of war) camp. These camps were brutal and horrific. Since Louie was an Olympian the Japanese were even harder on him. The main person that torchetured Louie was named ‘Bird’., Hhe made him stand and hold a metal rod as he beat him. Louie survived two whole years of the brutal camps. He was able to leave after the US bombed Japan and took back all their people.(1)

After the brutal experience Louie wasn’t able to fully recover. Louie started taking drugs to keep his mind off of his experience that he just experienced. He wanted to forget about it and he found that doing drugs helped. Since, he was doing drugs he almost got divorced with his wife. (2)One day He went to a Billy Graham speech. Billy Graham said something that changed Louie’s life. Something that Billy said made Louie remember his promise with God. That night he pouthredw outaway all his drugs and started believing in God. He became a motivational speaker and talked about his experience.(1) Louie returned to Japan for the Nagano Winter Games to carry the torch. When he was in Japan he saw ‘Bird’. Even though Bird did so many awful things to Louie, Louie forgave him.(2)

Although he started off doing drugs he was able to be the best person he could be.