In the novel “Unbroken” by Laura Hildenbrand, Louis Zamperini struggles to overcome many challenges during World War II. Zamperini was a troubled child. He completely despised authority and had difficulty controlling his temper. His brother, Pete, wanted to keep him out of trouble, so he distracted him by running. Louis fell in love with this sport. After having a successful career as an athlete and joining the Olympics, Zamperini was drafted into the Air Force. Along with the challenges posed by the war, Zamperini faced unusual circumstances: his plane suffered mechanical problems and crashed near Oahu. Of the eleven men on board the plane, three survived and were stranded at sea for forty-seven days. Zamperini was one of them. After being stranded, he was picked up by the Japanese navy and taken to a prisoner of war camp where he was tortured. He was held there until the end of the war. The events of Zamperini's childhood led him to become a courageous and fearless adult. His dynamism, his commitment, his hope and his determination allowed him to stay alive and flourish in each of these situations. Zamperini's troubled upbringing changed his personality and character later in life and made him a stronger individual. “If it was edible, Louis stole it... When he discovered that the refrigerated tables at the Meinzer bakery were an arm's length from the back door, he started picking the lock, s 'seize pies, eat until he is full and reserve the rest as ammunition for ambushes' (Hillenbrand, 6). He was not afraid of the consequences of his actions. After observing his behavior, Louie's brother Pete couldn't stand to see his brother acting out any longer. He decided to distract Louie by forcing him to play a sport. This was the beginning of Louie's Olympic care...... middle of paper ......enbrand, 148). With no help in sight, the men began to give up. Zamperini was determined to survive and make sure others survived too. Despite the fact that everyone refused to eat, he forced them. “When Louie opened it [the albatross], they were pleasantly surprised to find that it didn't smell that bad. However, no one wanted to eat it. Louie portioned out the meat and insisted that everyone eat” (Hildenbrand, 149). He was tenacious and that served him well. Without Louie's drive, commitment, hope and determination, many men stranded at sea, including himself, would not have survived this long. His years as a juvenile delinquent and later career as an Olympic runner helped strengthen Louie's character and instill confidence in him, which ultimately prepared him to become lost at sea and survive the horrors of World War. 2.