I just finished reading “Unbroken“, at the urging of my wife, and it was a great book! It inspired me to create a Google Earth file that shows all of his adventures, but I was unable to find a simple timeline of his events.
By working back through the book, and using various other online resources, I came up with the following. If you see anything that is missing or inaccurate, please leave a comment and let me know.
Update: April 26, 2011 — Thanks to David Hale, the list is now much more accurate, including dates for most of the major events. For a full timeline, you can check out this Google Spreadsheet (or download the Excel file, if you prefer). Thanks David!
Early Years
- Jan 26, 1917 – Born in Olean, NY — 327 Coleman Street (thanks Alec!)
- 1920 – Moved to Torrance, CA — 2028 Gramercy Avenue
- Aug 26, 1929 – Louie saw the Graf Zeppelin over Torrance, CA
- Jan, 1933 – Louie began tenth grade at Torrance High School
- Feb, 1933 – Louis began competitive running
- Dec, 1935 – Louie graduated from High School
- May 22, 1936 – Track meet in USC Coliseum. Louie finished second in the 5000.
- July 3, 1936 – Louie left Torrance for the Olympic trials in New York.
- Aug 7, 1936 – Ran in the Berlin Olympics
- 1938 – Attended USC
- Sept 29, 1941 – Louie joined the Army.
Bombardier school
- Nov, 1941 – Houston, TX – Ellington Field
- Aug, 1942 – Midland, TX – Midland Army Flying School
Training
- Aug 19, 1942 – Ephrata, WA
- Oct, 1942 – Sioux City, IA
- Oct, 1942 – Hamilton Field, CA (stopover to Hawaii)
- Nov 2, 1942 – Hawaii — Hickam Field
Missions
- Dec 23, 1942 – Wake Atoll (via Midway Island)
- Feb, 1943 – Canton (to prep for Makin and Tarawa)
- Feb, 1943 – Makin (in the Gilbert Islands)
- Feb, 1943 – Tarawa (in the Gilbert Islands)
- April 17, 1943 – Nauru, then landed in Funafuti
- April 18, 1943 – From Funafuti, via Canton, to Palmyra Atoll
- May 24, 1943 – Stationed at Kualoa Field, Oahu
The Crash
- May 27, 1943 – The plane that they were searching for crashed on the way to Canton from Kualoa
- May 27, 1943 – Heading from Kualoa to Palmyra and crashed, roughly 225 miles north of Palmyra
POW
- July 13, 1943 – Landed at Wotje in the Marshall Islands
- July 16, 1943 – Kwajalein
- Truk Atoll (stopover on the way to Yokohama)
- Sept 15, 1943 – Yokohama, Japan (on the eastern coast of Honshu) to Ofuna
- Sept 31, 1944 – Omori (on an artificial island in Toyko Bay)
- March 2, 1945 – Naoetsu
Going home
- Sept 5, 1945 – From Naoetsu to Yokohama
- Sept 17, 1945 – Okinawa
- Sept 18, 1945 – Laoag, Philippines
- Sept, 1945 – Manila
- Sept, 1945 – Stopover at Kwajalein
- Sept, 1945 – Hawaii
- Oct, 1945 – Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco (Pete came to visit)
- Oct, 1945 – Long Beach airport (reunited with family)
Post-war
- May 25, 1946 – Cynthia and Louie were married.
- Sept, 1949 – Billy Graham came to Los Angeles
- June, 1954 – San Gabriel Mountains, CA – Louie opened the Victory Boys Camp
- 1984 – Louie carried the Olympic torch in Los Angeles
- Jan 22, 1998 – Louie carried the Olympic torch past the Naoetsu POW camp.
- April, 2003 – Wantanabe died
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What about his personal life ? Wife,kids etc.
I didn’t add too much post-war stuff, as you can see. If you have specific locations for other major events in his life, please let me know and I’ll add them to the list. Thanks!
Daughter Cynthia Lou born January 7, 1949
Just finished this wonderful book, but have one question. Is Louie’s wife Cynthia still living? If not, when did she die?
Dave Gladwell
Thanks! Just read the book and felt the need to map out the timeline. You did it for me.
Great, I’m glad it was helpful. Please let me know if you see any errors or think we should add anything else to it. Thanks!
Great job Mickey. Thanks. This is very cool ! Yesterday I heard a interview with the author of unbroken on NPR. This am I went right to amazons site to learn what I could. My father was in the Pacific during the same time Louis was there. My father was with the 72nd bombardier squadron. Last year I started to research his Army Air Corps records. After working with my US Senators office, Ted Kaufman in Delaware we found out that his records destroyed in a fire back in the 70s. since then I’ve bin trying to contact people who may have server with him. could you please share some of the resources you used to research Louis Zamperini s history. Do you know how to get in touch with Him or someone in his family? This would be of great help !! Thanks John
John,
I’m glad you found the file useful. Be sure to also check out the Google Earth file I created from this list, which I’ve now linked near the beginning of the post (I had forgotten to link it before).
My research was based entirely on Google searches and referencing back to the book. Thankfully, I was using the Kindle version of the book so I was able to use the “search” feature to quickly find areas that I was looking for.
I’ve not had any contact with any of his family, nor with Laura Hillenbrand or anyone related to the book.
Good luck finding the info you need!
Mickey
His son, Louis Silvie Zamaperini was born Aug. 4 1953
I too just finished the book, loved it! I am going to search for his date of death, etc. which I noticed you left off, thanks.
Ronnie — Date of death doesn’t exist yet, as Louis is still alive at the age of 94!
However, if you have other items that you think are worthy of being on this list (dates of the Billy Graham events, etc), please let me know.
Hallelujah! I needed thisyou’re my sviaor.
I have not quite completed the book but I have enjoyed it immensely. I have trouble keeping track of the timeline (how long in each camp or between major events in each camp, etc). So I found your list above and find it informative as such but I would love to find the same list (with maybe a few more items) with actual dates (or at least the dates from the book). Do you know of such a timeline available?
Also I think you have done a great job on the GoogleEarth file and have spent some time looking at it. The one question I have is about the Naoetsu Camp. There is a picture of the camp in the book in chapter 32 that was taken by B-29 Bomber pilot Byron Kinney on his final pass over the camp on September 2, 1945. It shows the camp to be in a more populated area at the convergence of 2 waterways (rivers, canals?). This does not match with your GoogleEarth point for the camp. The caption of the picture points out the building from which the plot against “The Bird” was to take place.
I am fully aware that things change over time and your point may be perfectly accurate. However, you might look at the photo again and see if it gives you any clues. Please let me know what you discover about this matter?
(And if you know of an actual timeline with dates)
Thanks,
David A. Hale
David,
My location for that camp is an estimate, as I’d forgotten about that photo. If you can track down the exact location (which waterways are they?), I’ll be happy to make the change.
As for dates, I don’t know of a list. The reason for this post was due to a lack of any kind of list, much less a dated one. If you care to dig them out, I’d be more than happy to append this post with that info.
Thanks!
Mickey,
Keep in mind that I am not a map expert or a research expert but I did some research on the web and I believe the Naoetsu Camp is in Joetsu at approximately 37 deg 10′ 41″ N and 138 deg 14′ 59″ E. My reasoning is thus:
1) This location is at the intersection of 2 rivers visually similar to those shown in the picture taken by the pilot (mentioned above).
2) I found a Japan map at “http://home.comcast.net/~winjerd/TokGroup.htm”. This map is part of a large amount of research about Japanese POW camps. Look at the map for Naoetsu #2 which is also called Tokyo Group Camp 4b in the research.
3) I found a sketch of the camp at “http://www.max.hi-ho.ne.jp/yoshi-ko/park/historye.htm” which includes the Hokura river on the backside. This sketch matches (to me) the part of the camp you can see in the pilots photo.
4) The text near the end of chapter 27 of the book which says Zamperini and others were “transferred to a camp called 4B, also known as Naoetsu” and when they arrived they “crossed a bridge and saw the Sea of Japan. Just short of it, cornered against the Ara and Hokura rivers, was the Naoetsu POW camp”.
The only questionable information I found was that in Google maps, the river mentioned in the book as the Hokura River is called the Seki river today.
If you agree with my research, please make the appropriate changes to your maps. How does this change get propogated to the general public? How do I get it on my PC? (I am not an expert on oogle Earth, either
In the meantime, I have a searchable (epub) version of the book and I will try to pull out all the dates for a timeline. This will be limited to the accuracy of the book itself but that’s what I wanted in the first place. It will take me some time to complete this but I will post it here when I am done if you like.
Thanks for your help,
David A. Hale
David — That’s excellent, thanks!
I haven’t had a chance to post it yet, and I probably won’t until next week (getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow morning), but I’ll get that updated as soon as I can. Thanks again!
David — The KMZ file has finally been updated. I apologize for the delay, and I agree with your reasoning for that placement of the camp. Thanks!
If you’re able to get more of the dates for me, please do.
Mick,
I am working on the dates but I apologize that I have had several delays. I promise to get it out as soon as I can.
FYI – I am actually going in and pulling out EVERY date in the book. That is one reason for the time it is taking. I will have the ability to produce both a high level (just major events) as well as a much lower level (all the dates in the book) reports if all goes as planned.
I’ll let you know when I have it finished and we can discuss how to get it out to interested parties.
Thanks,
David
Just finished this incredible book and wished there had been a timeline and more detailed map included for Louie’s incredible story. Great to see you have done this–so helpful for readers like myself that want to learn more. Please let me know of any updates!
Mick and Kate,
I AM still working on the timeline and WILL complete it. It is just taking longer than I anticipated. I will post the timeline here when complete and you (Mick) can update the site he has already done so well on.
David
great book. I wanted to drive by the Zamperini house in Torrence. There is a discrepency on the address. In the book and on various websites, they list it as 2028 Gramercy Street. GoogleEarth only has a Gramercy AVE. Does a Gramercy Street still exist? thank you so much. jim stern in santa monica
James — I’ve assumed it’s the same street, and this article seems to agree (since they also call it “Avenue”:
http://rsvpsb.org/rsvp/Archive/OldTorrance/SHOT.html
Can’t say for sure, though.
Absolutely terrific book…The Greatest Generation at its best! Mickey, thanks for the website and info.
Don — I agree; stunningly good book! Thanks for visiting.
Mick,
I have completed my timeline. It is contained in an Excel file. It has 3 worksheets:
- “Original Worksheet” – as it says this was my original worksheet
- “150+ Entry Timeline” – actually just the original sorted by date.
- “MickMel Timeline” – I took your outline and addede my dates where I had them. On the ones I could not find a date, I have at least included the page from the hardcover book (this page number is on all entries). I used your verbage on all the items except for High school, I showed beginning 10th grade and graduating as separate lies, and I added an entry at the end that I thought might be important.
Please let me know if you have questions about or corrections to my work.
Please feel free to review my detailed timeline for more entries into your outline.
Also feel free to post the entire file on the web site if you think it can be valuable to your other readers.
Now I have 2 questions.
1) How do I get the file to you?
2) How do I download your updated Google Earth file?
Thanks,
David A. Hale
Great!
1 — Email is fine: mickmel@gmail.com
2 — I keep the Google Earth Blog post updated with it:
http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2011/01/unbroken_louis_zamperinis_journey_i.html
Thanks!
Mick,
I like the new timeline particularly the last 2 entries. I thought they were meant to be there. Thanks for including the entire file for your readers. I was impressed by your original web page and very proud to have been allowed to contribute.
Keep up the good work!!
David A. Hale
David — Thanks for the excellent file! If you think any other entries from the spreadsheet should be listed on this page, let me know.
I’ve had this sitting on my reading pile for a couple of months and my book group just decided to read it. They will really enjoy both the timeline and the Google Maps! Thanks, Mickey and Dave!
My husband just started reading the book (I read it in March and found this website so helpful and interesting!) so I downloaded the excel file with the timeline for him. The addition of the dates and page references is awesome, thanks to all for your gift of time and research to help readers like myself keep things straight. When you are in Excel, change the page layout to landscape orientation for better formats.
I recently finished both “Unbroken” and “Devil At My Heels”. Wonderful books…inspiring message. I just gave my father, age 92 and WWII veteran, a copy of “Unbroken”. Thank you for your efforts in compiling the time line and the Google Maps. I think you should add the date of birth of Louie and Cynthia’s daughter – at least the month and year.
Wendy — Any idea of what that date might be? I don’t think I’ve come across it yet.
According to Ancestry.com, Cynthia Lou Zamperini was born in Los Angeles County on January 7, 1949. Mother’s maiden name: Applewhite. Also, Louis Silvie Zamperini was born in Los Angeles County on August 4, 1953. Mother’s maiden name: Applewhite.
Unbroken was fantastic!
My father flew over 60 missions over New Guinea in the 13th Army Air Force. I have records of his that give names of his friends, etc.
Mickey, if you have John J’s contact info, please send this to him. My e-mail is gstaff (at) eagletoninc.com
I just left a comment that I need to apologize for. I thought that Louie had gone to
heaven for his eternal medal or award but I see he is still running the race and will be awarded the prize at the conclusion of this beautiful race on earth.You will always be an inspiration to me and so many others in our own races in life.
God bless you always. Carol Ann Allison
Got the book UNBROKEN from local library, upon recommendation of the wife of a fellow Navy Chaplain (we’re both USN Retired). I LOVE WW-2 stories, and this one beats most all of them for quality, and the inability to put the book down. Having been a counselor for the Billy Graham Association in Minneapolis, I found his “turn-around” most intriguing.
God Bless, Chaplain Ken Hyatt, USN (Ret)
Where was the family from in Italy?
Thank you so much for doing this. Funny, but I was writing my own timeline in the back of the book while I was reading it on airplanes. Several times, strangers asked me, “Why are you taking notes in that book? Are you studying?” Ha! I was just trying to get it straight. Now I will give my husband your timeline so he doesn’t have to struggle the same way.
Terri — That’s great! Glad I could help. If you have any additional pieces that I should add to it, please let me know.
Mickey, I was about to start my own KMZ file when I found yours (and also the timeline!). Great job. Best regards from Brazil!
Would Lou have known Jake Deshazzer? (spelling?) Jake was a fellow POW in Japan, who came to Christ through his POW trials, and then later returned to Japan as a Christian missionary. Deshazzer was part of the original DoLittle Raiders. Chaplain Ken, USN(Retired)
I also just finished reading Unbroken. For the past 14 years I had the honor to work at the Idaho State Veterans home and care for many world war II survisors. I now have a better understanding of their hardships. I can now understand better the effects of PTSD. These men and women are leaving us at a very fast pace and should never be forgotten. Let all of us continue to remember.
It is a great book. We are reading it for February in our Book Club. In the Post War Timeline, it should have listed his wife’s death in 2001. But this is great work you have done.
I just finished Unbroken – As a 68 year old woman I can’t believe I read it cover to cover knowing
how difficult much would be to read and then have one’s mind see. But I did it, and I’m so very
grateful to the friends who recommended it to me. There is much to be learned for each of us who
have read this. I pray we grow wiser and more faithful.
I just finished reading Unbroken about 10 minutes ago and Louie Zamperini has become my hero. All of the POWs were inspiring and it made me wonder if I could have surrvived what they went through…I hope that I could have. I would love to meet him or at least see him and was wondering if by any chance anyone knew if he still lives in California?
This man is the greatest american hero of our time. The sacrifice is more than words can express. I read the book twice in a row. What an example to follow. Thanks so much for your patriotism. You should have received every award known to man for what you did not only for yourself and country but for the men that served with you. You are all HERO’S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will never be forgotten and we are forever indebted to you for our freedom Paul Hamilton
I read the book and have never been so endeared to someone I have never met. I cried when I read how he saw the pilot’s smile of the plane dropping food and supplies over the P.O.W. camp. May our children learn from his bravery and endurance, as I have.
I am an elementary school teacher, and I couldn’t put UNBROKEN down either. Incredible story about an inspiring man by a talented author. Wow.
Every time we pray we are doing what Louis did. Thanking god for our survival in this life and pledging to live by the faith. But we forget our pledge. Something that Louis didn’t do. And he was able to overcome his prison camp trauma with the help of the lord’s higher power. Otherwise he would have turned into the monster who thrashed him.
Thanks for the timeline. I also just finished Unbroken and couldn’t put it down. It warms my heart to know that Zamp is still out there, alive and kicking. ;)
I can’t imagine being able to endure the treatment that Louis went through and survive. My heart goes out to him and all the servicemen that have been POWs. Unless you read Unbroken you have no idea what they go through. May God bless all the families of those who don’t survive and bless those who do. I believe God never left Louis but gave him the strenth to endure. He was with him to be able to forgive those who tortured him. How great is that. He is an inspiritation to all. God bless you!!!
My dad is a WWII (Okinawa) veteran at 86 he loves to read, so I bought him Unbroken. He hadn’t read it yet, so I picked it up, read him some of it and he’ll read it next. Louis, such a heroic man in so many ways..unbelievably unbroken. Dad and Louis..both my Hero….Thank you Mr. Zamperini
David Handy: I read “Unbroken”. Absolutely amazing account. Having been in the U.S.Navy and served aboard ship I can relate to the size of the Pacific. I attended Torrance High School for a short time before continuing my high school education at South Torrance High. I can remember Torrance in the 1950′s. I can only imagine what it might have looked like in 1920. Myself, like most Americans, appreciate our military personnel. The account of Louie’s experiences certainly opened my eyes.
What a story, what a man, what an American Hero. My dad was in the Army Air Corps during WWII and was shot down and survived. He was MIA for under a year, saved by the Chinese somewhere near Burma. He never talked to us about his experience, and he passed away when I was 16. Louie’s story helps me to understand what these men went through. I am happy to know he found faith in God, had a loving wife and two beautiful children. I thank all the men of America who fought in WWII so we could have this wonderful life here in America. God Bless America, and thank you Louie.
The book changed my life. What divine intervention occurred throughout this book. God held Louie up along with so many others and kept them going. I have read war stories before, but this author captured the heart and soul of the POW experiences. As I read, it was as if I were there with Louie. I had to quit bringing the book to work to read, because I couldn’t stop crying. I love you Louis, you are an amazing “Angel of God.”