Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Chapter 37: Twisted Ropes


1 Louie plans to go back to Japan: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

2 Louie’s decline, troubled marriage: Ric Applewhite, telephone interview, March 12, 2008; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Payton Jordan, telephone interviews, August 13, 16, 2004; Peter Zamperini, telephone interview, October 22, 2004; Sylvia Flammer, telephone interviews, October 25, 27, 2004.

3 “nails every one of us”: Améry, p. 68.

4 Shizuka sees dead son: Mutsuhiro Watanabe, “I Do Not Want to Be Punished by America,” Bingei Shunjyu, April 1956, translated from Japanese.

Chapter 38: A Beckoning Whistle


1 Relatives think dead man is Mutsuhiro: Mutsuhiro Watanabe, “I Do Not Want to Be Punished by America,” Bingei Shunjyu, April 1956, translated from Japanese.

2 Shizuka believes Mutsuhiro is alive, Mutsuhiro promises to return: Ibid.

3 Authorities question identity of body, tail family: “From Chief of Hyogo Prefectural Police Force,” November 21, 1950, report, from papers of Frank Tinker; Mutsuhiro Watanabe, “I Do Not Want to Be Punished by America,” Bingei Shunjyu, April 1956, translated from Japanese.

4 Meeting at restaurant: Mutsuhiro Watanabe, “I Do Not Want to Be Punished by America,” Bingei Shunjyu, April 1956, translated from Japanese.

5 Shizuka refers to deaths at Mitsumine: “From Chief of Hyogo Prefectural Police Force,” November 21, 1950, report, from papers of Frank Tinker.

6 Rumors: Martindale, p. 248; Frank Tinker, telephone interview, February 20, 2005; Johan Arthur Johansen, Krigsseileren, issue 1, 1991, translated from Norwegian by Nina B. Smith.

7 if I am alive: Mutsuhiro Watanabe, “I Do Not Want to Be Punished by America,” Bingei Shunjyu, April 1956, translated from Japanese.

8 Billy Graham history: Cliff Barrows, Graham musical director, telephone interview, February 22, 2007; Billy Graham, Just as I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham (HarperSanFrancisco and Zondervan, 1997), pp. 92–158.

9 Los Angeles campaign: Graham, pp. 143–158; “Billy Graham Acclaimed: Crusade Continues as Over 300,000 Attend,” Van Nuys (Calif.) News, November 17, 1949; “Old Fashioned Revival Hits Los Angeles,” Gettysburg (Pa.) Times, November 2, 1949.

10 Movie contract: Virginia MacPherson, “Preacher Laughs Off Film Offers to Make Him Star,” San Mateo (Calif.) Times, November 12, 1949.

11 Louie and Cynthia meet neighbor: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

12 Cynthia goes to Graham: Ibid.; Cliff Barrows, Graham musical director, telephone interview, February 22, 2007.

13 Dinner at Sylvia’s: Sylvia Flammer, telephone interviews, October 25, 27, 2004.

14 Cynthia talks Louie into seeing Graham: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

15 Graham exhausted, doesn’t recognize daughter: Graham, pp. 156–57.

16 Train whistle: Billy Graham, “The Only Sermon Jesus Ever Wrote,” Los Angeles, October 22, 1949, audio recording, BGEA.

17 Louie’s impression of Graham: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

18 Graham’s sermon, Louie’s reaction: Billy Graham, “The Only Sermon Jesus Ever Wrote,” Los Angeles, October 22, 1949, BGEA; Louis Zamperini, telephone interviews.

19 Cynthia gets Louie to return to Graham: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

20 Graham’s second sermon, Louie’s reaction: Ibid.; Billy Graham, “Why God Allows Communism to Flourish and Why God Allows Christians to Suffer,” Los Angeles, October 23, 1949, BGEA.

21 Louie’s last flashback: Louis Zamperini, telephone interviews.

22 Louie and Cynthia return home: Ibid.

23 Louie at park, new view of his life: Ibid.

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