Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) honored the life and legacy of local Hollywood Hills resident Louis Zamperini by moving to adjourn the Assembly floor session in his memory.
A World War II prisoner of war survivor, inspirational speaker, and Olympic distance runner, Zamperini was a true American hero. He died of pneumonia on July 2, 2014 at the age of 97. Zamperini lived in Gatto’s 43rd Assembly District.
“I got to know Louis Zamperini when we sat next to one another during a flight one evening,” said Gatto. “He was a very memorable guy, and humble and charming despite his incredible life story. His tales are burned in my mind.”
The child of poor Italian immigrants in Torrance, California, Zamperini became a celebrated runner, representing the United States in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Later, as a bombardier for the Army Air Corps, Zamperini survived for forty-seven days on a raft in the Pacific Ocean, rescuing two of his crewmates after their plane crashed behind enemy lines. Zamperini survived the ordeal by eating birds, fish, and sharks, only to be captured and tortured as a POW at “Execution Island” in the Japanese-occupied Marshall Islands. Overcoming the continued abuse, Zamperini survived the war and eventually returned to Japan to offer forgiveness for his tormentors and carry the torch for the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. He leaves behind a son, Luke; a daughter, Cynthia; and a legacy of perseverance that will be memorialized in the feature film Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, which will be released this Christmas.
Gatto’s motion to adjourn in memory of Zamperini was published on July 3, 2014. A spoken motion will also be made by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), who represents Zamperini’s hometown, when the legislature returns in August