Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken

During World War II, Japanese-Americans were relocated and POWs were held in Axis camps. Both camps made the POWs and Japanese-Americans feel invisible and dehumanized. The book Unbroken: by Laura Hillenbrand captures the views of the captives in the Japanese POW camps from Louis Zamperini’s point of view. Louis Zamperini was a problem child growing up until his brother Pete introduced Louis to track. After years in high school and college Louis found himself on the American Olympic track team in Berlin for the 1936 Olympic Games. Once World War II started Louis signed up for the AAF and became a bombardier. After his plane crashed he drifted for over 2,000 miles and was captured by the Japanese and held as a POW. In the article The Life of …show more content…
Louis's older brother Pete turned Louis’s life around when he introduced Louis to track. After breaking most of his high school records in track and most in his college, Louis went on to make the American Olympic Track Team and competed in the 1936 Olympics. World War II started a few years after and Louis found himself signing up for the AAF (Army Air Forces). He became a bombardier and flew on a plane called Super Man. After his plane was badly damaged he and his crew were given a replacement plane called The Green Hornet which crashed over the Pacific Ocean. Louis drifted over 2,000 miles and was captured by the Japanese. After he was captured he was held as a POW for over two years. During those years Louis was beaten and humiliated by the guards. The guards put Louis through many dehumanizing acts that ended in pain and humiliation. With only two sips of water per day to live of Louis found himself begging for water. Louis cried and begged for water for hours and was ignored by the guards. Finally, “He (Louis) crawled to the door and pleaded for water. The guard left, then returned with a cup. Louie, grateful, drew closer to the door to take a drink. The guard then threw scalding hot water on his face.” (Unbroken Pg 181). Even though the guards attacked him with the water, he still couldn’t stop begging because of his situation. Louis was burned many …show more content…
Amongst the Japanese being relocated was a woman named Miné Okubo. Miné was just one of the tens of thousands of Japanese-Americans relocated during World War II. During their relocation families were reduced to just numbers. Most of the camps weren’t finished in time, leaving bathrooms half finished or not enough living space. The living quarters were poorly washed horse stalls, as there was still horse waste in them. Japanese-American families were dehumanized when their family name became just a simple number. “‘As a result of my interview,’ she (Miné) wrote,’ my family was reduced to No.13660. I was given several tags bearing the family number, and then was dismissed.’” (The Life of Miné Okubo Pg 4). Families were demoralized and dehumanized when they were replaced as numbers instead of their names. During their interviews they were told their family number and given tags with the number, and then they were told to leave. The Japanese-Americans felt invisible because of the reduction. Their dignity was lost when they were referred to as a number instead of a name. They didn't feel important because they were replaced by numbers. Years after Japanese-Americans that were imprisoned are still traumatized and remember the feeling of losing their freedom. The internees were traumatized by their loss of freedom, the felt demoralized and like they

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