Louis Zamperini is an elderly man in his nineties. He lived an adventurous life as a World War II veteran and Olympic athlete. He is recognized by others as a war hero, but does not accept that he is a war hero. Why don't we go back and see what he did in his past to earn such a title. Louis Zamperini is a son of Italian ethnicity. His mother and father, both immigrants from Italy, had two children. Pete, the eldest son and Louis Zamperini. When they arrived in America none of them spoke English. While away from their parents, the kids had spent their days building infamous egos. The two brothers had become mischievous. Stealing food from homes or shops. Getting in trouble wherever they go. As they grew older, so did their mischief. Louis has learned to look after himself, picking fights when he's bullied or when someone crosses his path. Sometimes petty thefts or chases occurred. His actions made it harder for him to trust. One day he ran away from home. Only to seriously injure his foot and kneecap. He returned home as soon as this happened. His brother eventually helped him get back on track. His brother helped him, but what really inspired Louis to join him was a female temptation at a track meet that his brother took him to. It wasn't easy because I thought it would be too annoying. Because Louis was a gifted runner, the school allowed him to enroll. It was thought that giving Louis a sport to compete in would build some character in him. What kept Louis competing on the track was that he liked the glory and the crowds cheering him. Otherwise he would give up and resort to a more criminal path than that of an athlete. His brother became his personal coach, developing Louis' athletic abilities... halfway... he later suffered physiological problems from the war prison camps. His problem became so bad that he almost got divorced. He then began attending religious meetings to cure his sick mind. Then Louis participated in sporting programs and events. Now he goes around giving speeches about his life story. Now his story has been written down into books and will soon be made into a Hollywood film. He may have been a hero for his will to survive the most brutal situation ever. He says that a hero should have been a person who had sacrificed something very important. I don't think what he said is true. I see that he managed to leave the comfort of his home, the safety of civilization, and survive the danger of being lost at sea and the cruelty of humanity. What makes him a veteran is the enduring conflict. What makes him a hero is his self-sacrifice and influence on others.