Talk:Louis Zamperini

Issues Resolved
There IS a photo of Louis Zamperini on this page.

I can probably dig up another picture of the B-24. Zamperini Field in Torrance California has a permanent display with lots of pictures.

I believe the Nazi flag mention here isn't accurate. He tore down the flag because he felt the Olympics were more about EVERY nation, not just Germany, and that Hitler was, in effect, grandstanding. Tearing down the flag was more equalizing than of "souvenir" value.

His brother Pete was my track coach at Banning High School in Wilmington California. Very well respected by all.

Louis and Pete would often meet at El Retiro Park in Torrance to play pinochle.

I'm a pilot. Louis would occasionally hang out at "his" airport. I have talked to him, on and off, over the past 10 years. He made people feel really at home. Blondesareeasy (talk) 06:41, 24 August 2014 (UTC)

Photo
There are two people in the photo labeled Zamperini. Which one is he? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.225.34.178 (talk) 09:05, 20 November 2010 (UTC)

For future reference
-Location (talk) 01:03, 20 January 2011 (UTC)
 * http://www.cosmolearning.com/documentaries/this-is-your-life-louis-silvie-zamperini-1692/1/

Add Photo
I think that there needs to be a photo of mr zamperini on this wiki.

I was on facebook and was "liking" louis zamperini, there was no photo on the wiki/facebook page.

Any ideas? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.203.142.254 (talk) 15:21, 22 June 2012 (UTC)


 * The article definitely needs some photo of this man. Adding reqphoto.  N2e (talk) 13:15, 12 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Added. Floatjon (talk) 01:07, 10 May 2014 (UTC)

This article needs a contemporaneous WWII photo of
Captain Zamperini and also the B-24, type of aircraft that Captain Z crashed in.

This article needs also mention of "Zamperini Field" that his hometown of Torrance named in his honor, still there today.Starhistory22 (talk) 02:52, 26 May 2014 (UTC)
 * √Added the High School Stadium. Will get to USC in a little over a month for the Plaza. Trackinfo (talk) 05:47, 26 May 2014 (UTC)
 * ✅ (Zamperini and B-24). Mojoworker (talk) 20:58, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Who really wrote the book?
"Laura Hillenbrand's best-selling book by the Coen brothers" 71.163.117.143 (talk) 16:47, 3 July 2014 (UTC)

Albatross
"They caught two albatrosses, which they ate and used to catch fish, all while fending off constant shark attacks and nearly being capsized by a storm"

Is this supposed to imply they caught fish with an albatross? I mean this does actually happen (it's an old Japanese method to use birds to catch fish) but this could also just be missing a comma.
 * I clarified that they used the albatross meat as bait. Mojoworker (talk) 05:24, 30 November 2014 (UTC)

Purple Heart
I don't see anywhere in the article how he was injured, but I suppose I can wait to see the movie and find out. Terry Thorgaard (talk) 15:55, 5 December 2014 (UTC). In the "External Links" section, there is a link to an interview of Zamperini. On page 86 of that interview he describes some injuries he sustained while a POW. Perhaps that's what it is for. Terry Thorgaard (talk) 18:17, 5 December 2014 (UTC)

Also, how did he win the Philippine Liberation Medal; his plane went down in 1943, and the medal was awarded for participation "... in the liberation of the Philippine Islands between the dates of October 17, 1944 and September 2, 1945. ..."? Terry Thorgaard (talk) 16:51, 5 December 2014 (UTC)

Olympic Career section
"As Zamperini tells the story, Hitler shook his hand, and said simply "Ah, you're the boy with the fast finish". Actually, I believe that what the interview in the "External Sources" section indicates is that Goebels quoted his boss saying words to that effect to Zamperini, and the German Chancellor then shook Zamperini's hand without saying anything. I guess I'm merely quibbling about multiple hearsay, and have no reason to doubt the substance of the remark; only who was present when it was made.  Terry Thorgaard (talk) 20:42, 5 December 2014 (UTC)

louis zamperini memorial mile
In the popular culture section, perhaps a comment on the "Louis Zamperini Memorial Mile" would be a good item. http://www.sbnation.com/puck-the-media/2013/8/26/4657756/film-glickman-hbo-review

"One particular person interviewed makes for an excellent story. Louis Zamperini, one of Glickman's Olympic teammates, was a P.O.W. in World War II. Presumed dead, Glickman actually broadcast a memorial race in his honor. Zamperini was eventually found and, in one of the most darkly comic moments of the film, ran in his own memorial mile. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/15/sports/track-and-field-not-yet-ready-for-his-last-mile.html

"Zamperini is in New York to be the honorary referee at the Armory Collegiate Invitational track meet, in its second and final day today at the Armory Track and Field Center in Upper Manhattan. His is a name of note. In 1945, when he was presumed dead, the IC4A meet at Madison Square Garden named its invitational mile the Louis Zamperini Memorial Mile in his honor. A year later he attended the event in person. He tried to run again, with the goal of making the 1948 Olympic team. Knee and ankle injuries from the war kept him from regaining his world-class form."

--Patbahn (talk) 04:40, 12 December 2014 (UTC)

> Zamperini wrote two memoirs about his experiences, both bearing the same title: Devil at My Heels. > The first, written with Helen Itria, was subtitled "The Story of Louis Zamperini", and was published > by Dutton in 1956.[39] The second, subtitled "A World War II Hero's Epic Saga of Torment, Survival, > and Forgiveness," written with David Rensin, bore a familiar title > Please, "bore a familar title" and "both bearing the same title", this is just BAD writing. fix it! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.35.107.30 (talk) 07:44, 12 February 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 3 external links on Louis Zamperini. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://usembassy.state.gov/germany/zamperini.html
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-spw-barkley-q-and-a30-2009oct30%2C0%2C1462557.story
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20091205010545/http://www.seabiscuitonline.com/author.asp to http://www.seabiscuitonline.com/author.asp

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External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 4 external links on Louis Zamperini. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://archive.is/20130416061006/http://www.veteranmuseum.org/b24-memorial.html to http://www.veteranmuseum.org/b24-memorial.html
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20061105180343/http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/summer03/F_Zamperini.html to http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/summer03/F_Zamperini.html
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20120314184620/http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/vets/assets/pdf/journalWinter2006.pdf to http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/vets/assets/pdf/journalWinter2006.pdf
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20141023162638/http://www.torranceca.gov/21838.htm to http://www.torranceca.gov/21838.htm

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Supposedly in Critters 2 (1988)
On the audio commentary for Critters 2, on the recent Shout Factory bluray, the director says that Louis Zamperini is one of the extras in the film. The scene is early on, where it's flashing over scenes of town life, and you see two elderly men playing checkers. The director says: "And that is Lou Zamperini, about whom the movie 'Unbroken' was made. And the guy playing checkers with the cowboy hat is my father in law. That's a real little gem of arcane knowledge there." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.200.6.186 (talk) 02:59, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Unidentified award ribbon
In the picture of Zamperini on the main article page, you can see his award ribbons on his uniform. I have not been able to identify the one in the lower right corner. It looks like it has an award or service star. If the picture is actually from 1943, then it can't be the WWII victory ribbon and I do not believe that award or service stars are put on that ribbon anyway. There is a better quality picture of him in uniform elsewhere if you search "Louis Zamperini uniform." Any help in identifying it would be appreciated. 50.37.92.170 (talk) 17:05, 22 August 2023 (UTC)

Army or Air Force
Can't be both...either Army or Air Force. Looks like Army 2600:8805:3500:960:782A:C297:E09:5941 (talk) 02:00, 3 December 2023 (UTC)
 * See United States Army Air Forces.  bibliomaniac 1  5  04:42, 3 December 2023 (UTC)