PART V
Chapter 34: The Shimmering Girl
1 “This, this little home”: “Lou Zamperini Back in L.A.,” undated article from papers of Peter Zamperini, NPN.
2 Homecoming: Peter Zamperini, telephone interview, October 19, 2004; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Sylvia Flammer, telephone interviews, October 25, 27, 2004.
3 Louie hears record: Sylvia Flammer, telephone interviews, October 25, 27, 2004.
4 Nightmare about the Bird: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
5 Wade named Watanabe: Wade, p. 176.
6 MacArthur arrest list: “MacArthur’s Round Up of Criminals,” Argus (Melbourne), September 25, 1945; “Tojo Shoots Self to Avoid Arrest; MacArthur Orders 39 Other Criminals Arrested,” Port Arthur News, September 11, 1945.
7 Tojo suicide attempt: “Think Tojo Had Planned Suicide,” Council Bluffs (Iowa) Nonpareil, September 11, 1945; “Blood of Men He Sought to Destroy May Save Life of Man Ordering Pearl Harbor Attack,” Council Bluffs (Iowa) Nonpareil, September 11, 1945; Robert Martindale, telephone interview, January 2, 2005.
8 Watanabe flees: Mutsuhiro Watanabe, “I Do Not Want to Be Punished by America,” Bingei Shunjyu, April 1956, translated from Japanese.
9 Watanabe hears name listed with Tojo, resolves to disappear: Ibid.
10 Manhunt: Mutsuhiro Watanabe (Sgt.), vols. 1–3, 1945–1952, POW 201 File 1945–1947, SCAP, Legal Section, Administrative Division, RAOOH, RG 331, NACP.
11 Fake letter: Mutsuhiro Watanabe, “I Do Not Want to Be Punished by America,” Bingei Shunjyu, April 1956, translated from Japanese.
12 Watanabe said he’d rather die than be captured: Mutsuhiro Watanabe (Sgt.), vols. 1–3, 1945–1952, POW 201 File 1945–1947, SCAP, Legal Section, Administrative Division, RAOOH, RG 331, NACP.
13 Wave of suicides: Philip R. Piccigallo, The Japanese on Trial: Allied War Crimes Operations in the East, 1945–1951 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1979), p. 45.
14 Affidavits: Mutsuhiro Watanabe (Sgt.), vols. 1–3, 1945–1952, POW 201 File 1945–1947, SCAP, Legal Section, Administrative Division, RAOOH, RG 331,0020NACP.
15 Two thousand letters: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, April 5, 1946.
16 Ringing phone, ninety-five speeches: Louis Zamperini, letter to Edwin Wilber, May 1946.
17 “It was like he got hit”: Payton Jordan, telephone interviews, August 13, 16, 2004.
18 Louie drives to forest: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
19 Los Angeles Times dinner, drinking: Ibid.
20 Zamperini Invitational Mile: “Hero Takes Mile Without Running,” Kingsport (Tenn.) News, March 4, 1946.
21 Louie meets Cynthia: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Louis Zamperini, letters to Cynthia Applewhite, April 15 and May 9, 1946; Ric Applewhite, telephone interview, March 12, 2008; Sylvia Flammer, telephone interviews, October 25, 27, 2004.
22 “I want to see you again”: Ric Applewhite, telephone interview, March 12, 2008.
23 Cynthia dating Macs, first date: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
24 Cynthia’s history: Ric Applewhite, telephone interview, March 12, 2008.
25 Drinking gin at sixteen: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, May 8, 1946.
26 Louie throws toilet paper down hotel wall: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
27 Louie proposes: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, May 9, 1946.
28 Engagement concerns Applewhites: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, April 13, 1946; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
29 Cynthia ignorant of POW experiences: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
30 Easy on rice, barley: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, May 2, 1946.
31 Louie gets drunk on date: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
32 Louie warns Cynthia: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, April 23, 1946.
33 “We have got to set”: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, April 15, 1946.
34 “If you love me enough”: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, April 23, 1946.
35 Louie prepares for wedding: Louis Zamperini, letters to Cynthia Applewhite, April 5, 9, 27 and May 8, 1946.
36 Cynthia wants a home: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, April 23, 1946.
37 Sleeping on floors: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, May 10, 1946.
38 Concerns about Applewhites: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Ric Applewhite, telephone interview, March 12, 2008; Louis Zamperini, letter to Eric Applewhite, April 1946; Eric Applewhite, letter to Louis Zamperini, April 16, 1946.
39 Louie trains: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, April 13, 1946; Louis Zamperini, letter to Edwin Wilber, May 1946.
40 Cynthia’s deal with parents: Louis Zamperini, letter to Cynthia Applewhite, April 25, 1946; Ric Applewhite, telephone interview, March 12, 2008.
41 Ric’s fears: Ric Applewhite, telephone interview, March 12, 2008.
42 Louie, Cynthia argue: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
43 Cynthia calls home, Louie drinks: Ibid.