In the novel "Unbroken" by Laura Hildenbrand, Louis Zamperini struggles to overcome many challenges during World War II. Zamperini was a problem child. He was completely ignorant of 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 the sport. After having a successful career as an athlete and participating in the Olympics, Zamperini was drafted into the Air Force. In addition to the challenges brought by the war, Zamperini faced unusual circumstances as his plane suffered mechanical problems and crashed near Oahu. Of the eleven men aboard the plane, three survived and were stranded at sea for forty-seven days. Zamperini was one of these. After being stranded, he was picked up by the Japanese navy and taken to a prison camp where he was tortured. There he was held until the end of the war. The events of Zamperini's childhood led him to become a courageous and fearless adult. His drive, commitment, hope and resolve have kept him alive and thriving 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 Meinzer's Bakery were within an arm's length of the back door, he began picking the lock, stealing pies, eating until he was full, and reserving they rest him as ammunition for ambushes” (Hillenbrand, 6). He was not afraid of the consequences of his actions. After observing his behavior, Louie's brother, Pete, could no longer bear to watch him act forcing him to play a sport. This was the beginning of Louie's Olympic care... middle of paper... enbrand, 148).With no rescue in sight, the men began to surrender that the others also survived. Although everyone else refused to eat, he forced them “When Louie opened it [albatross], they were happily surprised to find that it didn't smell bad. Yet 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. If it weren't for Louie's drive, commitment, hope and determination, many of the men stranded at sea, including himself, would not have survived this long. His years as a juvenile delinquent and subsequent career as an Olympic runner helped strengthen Louie's character and instill confidence in him, which ultimately prepared him to be lost at sea and survive the horrors of World War. 2.