They moved to torrance, california during the 1920s. He graduated from torrance high school and the university of southern california. Louis zamperinis childhood hometown of torrance gets. Louis zamperini was born january 26, 1917 in olean, new york, to italian immigrants anthony zamperini and louise dossi. Californians were panicked by the pearl harbor attack of december 7, 1941, and civilian flights within 200 miles of the coast were immediately terminated. One of his fellow prisonerofwar camp mates was gregory h. His parents, anthony and louise, were italian immigrants who did not speak english. Zamperini was born in olean, new york, to italian immigrants who moved to torrance, california, when he was three. At the encouragement of his brother, zamperini joined the torrance high track team. Louis italian heritage made him the victim of bullies in school, and for years he. Born to italian immigrants in new york, his family moved to torrance. Just as louis zamperini and usc played key roles in each others stories, the university of southern california has been a vital resource in the development of our foundation.
Sep 05, 2017 torrance hometown hero louis zamperini earns a stretch of the 405 in his honor. Louis italian heritage made him the victim of bullies in school, and for years he acted out with petty delinquent crimes. Why you should have your next meeting in torrance things to discover for a torrance newbie view more. Sonoma christian home had the distinct pleasure of speaking with luke zamperini, only son of louis zamperini, speaker, and producer for unbroken, path to redemption sch. After the war, he returned to california, where he married and raised a family.
Born in olean, new york on january 26, 1917, louis zamperini was raised in torrance, california. We at torrance high school track and field mourn the loss of our friend and hero. Son of louis zamperini continues faith legacy sonoma. Proceeds will be dedicated to the louis zamperini trust collection at the torrance historical society and other related events or projects. A heroic olympians astonishing story of survival as a japanese pow in world war ii reissue edition by zamperini, louis, rensin, david 2011 paperback. He survived being lost at sea and years of horrific abuse as a pow in japan.
The obituary was featured in daily breeze on may 25, 2008. Louis zamperini biography famous people biographies. Captain louis zamperini was born in olean, new york in 1917 to parents that had immigrated to the united states from italy. Louis zamperini was a usc track legend before becoming. Torrance historical societys 2019 summer stroll video. Terms in this set 53 where was louis zamperini originally from. Aug 05, 2014 torrance celebrates the life of national hero louis zamperini the city of torrance in partnership with the torrance historical society, torrance unified school district, torrance airport association. A wwii story of survival, resilience, and redemption. Named after famous olympian war hero, louis zamperini. Free, onstreet parking is available on post and cravens within steps of the museum. New louis zamperini book signing to feature author, family. Synopsis louis zamperini was born in january 1917, in olean, new york. He is the person about whom the book unbroken is written.
Growing up in torrance, california, zamperini ran track at torrance high school and discovered that he had a talent for longdistance running. Torrance airport by charles lobb, foreword by louis. Louis zamperini is best known for laura hillenbrands book unbroken. Nov 27, 2018 sonoma christian home had the distinct pleasure of speaking with luke zamperini, only son of louis zamperini, speaker, and producer for unbroken, path to redemption sch. The son of italian immigrants, louie zamperini grew up in torrance, california, where he overcame a delinquent childhood to become a rising star in trackandfield. Discover torrance the official visitors bureau for torrance. Torrance airport by charles lobb, foreword by louis zamperini.
Louis silvie zamperini was born to italian immigrant parents on january 26, 1917, in the town of olean, new york. The boy swung his legs off his bed, raced down the stairs, slapped open the. Airfields were commandeered and new ones hastily built. He was an actor, known for unbroken 2014, today 1952 and american experience 1988. The government announcement of louis zamperini s death in world war ii made headlines.
To hell and back hillenbrand returns with harrowing yarn of a pow in wwii who survives 47 days at sea and brutal captors louis zamperini s homecoming in california in 1945. Louis silvie zamperini was born in 1917, son of italian immigrant parents in torrance, california. Born to italian immigrants in new york, his family moved to torrance, california when louis was a toddler. The western museum of flight dedicated to the southern california aerospace legacy chose to locate there.
In 1934, zamperini nicknamed the torrance tornado for his hometown of torrance, california broke the 18yearold interscholastic record for the mile in 4. If it wasnt known to be true, youd think the story of louis zamperini to be one of far fetched fiction, an american fantasy war novel. Zamperini enlisted in the army and became a bombardier. However, his running career was cut short when the pacific war broke out. It was a huge, heavy rush, suggesting immensity, a great parting of air. How to own a piece of southern california icon louis zamperini. Nicknamed the torrance tornado, most probably louis zamperini would have had a chance of winning an olympic medal already at the next games. Jul 03, 2014 the government announcement of louis zamperinis death in world war ii made headlines. The usc athletics department has partnered with louis zamperini youth ministries to ensure that our participating students are paired with qualified caring mentors. It was on the track team where zamperini set a world interscholastic record in the mile. From left to right, louis zamperini s son, luke zamperini, and daughter, cynthia zamperini garris and producer matt baer. None of his family members spoke english, and his inability to speak the language made him a target for bullying in school.
Olympic track team and traveled to berlin to represent his country. One the oneboy insurgency in the predawn darkness of august 26, 1929, in the back bedroom of a small house in torrance, california, a twelveyearold boy sat up in bed, listening. Louis louie zamperini the son of italian immigrants, louie grew up in torrance, california. Olympic athlete, world war ii bombadier, author, and christian evangelist, among others. Chapters 15 introduce an average boy who would become a remarkable man. Zamperini was born to a workingclass italian immigrant family in new york in 1917. Louis zamperini was a world war ii prisoner of war, an olympic athlete and an inspirational figure and writer. Louies youth and young adulthood in torrance, california. Longtime pilots know some of the people depicted in book. Pappy boyington, writer of the book baa baa black sheep, upon which black sheep squadron 1976 later black sheep squadron was based.
Raised in california, zamperini joined the track team in high school. Is louie zamperinis former home open to the public. Is louie zamperini s former home open to the public. After performing admirably in the 1936 olympics in germany, louie joined the army air corps of the united states and became a bombardier in wwii. He and his family moved to torrance, california, in 1919, where louis attended torrance high school. Kabc louis zamperini, an olympic star and world war ii hero profiled in the book and film unbroken, was celebrated by thousands at a memorial service on thursday. Unbroken pdf summary linda hilldenbrand 12min blog. This is a very well crafted pictorial history from the beginning of the lomita flight strip to todays zamperini field torrance muni airport. Louie is the youngest distance runner to ever make the american team. Born in january 1917 to italian immigrant parents, zamperini spent his youth as one of torrance, california s most notorious troublemakers. In the 1920s, for their childrens health, the family settled in torrance in southern california. He became an olympic runner and military aviator in wwii. In reading louiss story, you must love the mans spirit and envy it.
Louis louie zamperini 19172014 had multiple careers. In 1919, louis zamperini along with his family moved to california. Pictured on this page is the last b24 that still flies, which is part of the wings of freedom tour sponsored by the collings foundation. His parents, anthony and louise, were italian immigrants. At the time louie knew no english, making him the perfect target for bullies. Louis zamperini was born in january 1917, in olean, ny. Named zamperini field, it comemmorates hometown hero louis zamperini, the widely publicized olympic distance runner, ww ii bombardier and prisonerofwar. A celebration of louis zamperinis life torrance, ca july. Torrance airport ca images of aviation by charles lobb and louis. Zamperini was chased and caught by police for a stolen beer and brought home to his parents who dealt with him.
The torrance airport was renamed zamperini field on december 7, 1946. Louis attended torrance high school where he excelled in athletics. This led to his father teaching him boxing as a means of self defense. Louis zamperini, 1917 2014 louis zamperini 1917 2014 new york california louis zamperini was born on month day 1917, at birth place, new york, to antonio zamperini. Book signing january 25, 2015 with david rensin, coauthor of dont give up, dont give in lessons from an extraordinary life. The book seems well researched with numerous contextual references. Louis silvie zamperini january 26, 1917 july 2, 2014 was an american world war ii veteran, a christian evangelist and an olympic distance runner. Terms in this set 27 where was louis zamperini originally from. Book summary unbroken covers five primary periods in the life of louis louie zamperini. Your father was an amazingly strong man who was an olympic champion, who survived an air crash into the sea with a harrowing 47 days on a raft, and 2 years of torture in a japanese prison, but he could not overcome what we. At the age of 2, his family moved torrance, california where zamperini spent most of his childhood and teenage years.
Louis zamperini was born in olean, new york, but relocated to torrance with his family in the 1920s. The book is great for a pilot with a plane at torrance airport. Growing up in torrance, california, zamperini ran course at torrance high school and found he had a competitive streak a mile wide when it came to long distance running. His story was chronicled in the popular book unbroken, and the film adaption will. Louie zamperini in california author adventures literary. One of these was the lomita flight strip, known today as zamperini field, the torrance municipal airport, or toa.
Check out the book unbroken by laura hillenbrand for one of the most amazing stories of survival ever. Your father was an amazingly strong man who was an olympic champion, who survived an air crash into the sea with a harrowing 47 days on a raft, and 2 years of torture in a japanese prison, but he could not overcome. Zamperini and his family spoke no english when they moved to california, making him a target for bullies because of his italian roots. A high school and university of southern california track star, zamperini known as the torrance tornado competed in the 5,000meter run at the 1936 berlin olympics. Louis zamperini was born on january 26, 1917 in olean, new york, usa as louis silvie zamperini. Louis zamperini foundation the louis zamperini foundation. Zamperini grew up during the depression on gramercy place in torrance. Louis zamperini was a usc track legend before becoming world. Unbroken, the movie, based on the book, by laura hillenbrand.
Discover torrance the official visitors bureau for. Pictured on this page is the last b24 that still flies, which is part of the wings of freedom tour sponsored by. Louis zamperini historical records and family trees. To celebrate what would have been louis zamperinis 98th birthday, the torrance historical society will host a book signing at 2 p. There was a sound coming from outside, growing ever louder. He was a wild and wilful child, and not until he was 14 did anyone find an activity that would. Aug 28, 2006 californians were panicked by the pearl harbor attack of december 7, 1941, and civilian flights within 200 miles of the coast were immediately terminated. Louis zamperini, who died at age 97 after suffering from pneumonia, was a revered figure at usc even though many did not learn of his accomplishments until the past 10 years. Zamperini was the torrance tornado, the tough kid turned track star who set a national high school. Luke zamperini left, david rensin center, and cynthia zamperini garris right, louis son and daughter. Louis zamperini runs this town louis zamperini was born january 26, 1917 in olean, new york, to italian immigrants anthony zamperini and louise dossi. He took up running in high school and qualified for the us in the 5,000 m race for the 1936 berlin olympics. Zamperini was the torrance tornado, the tough kid turned track star who set a. At a glance cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test.
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