Summary and Analysis of Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption: Based on the Book by Laura Hillenbrand (Smart Summaries) by Worth Books

Author:Worth Books
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Worth Books
Published: 2017-05-09T04:00:00+00:00

PART V

Thirty-four: The Shimmering Girl

Louie was thrilled to be back with the family in Torrance. They’d saved his Christmas presents over the years, kept his car in shape, and baked him a cake. All seemed well until they played a recording of his prisoner broadcast. Louie screamed to turn it off. The Bird was still with him. As the Allies geared up for war crime trials, Watanabe was high on the arrest list; but he had gone into hiding, vowing never to be taken by the Americans. A manhunt began by both the Allies and Japanese police. They questioned and detained Shizuka, Watanabe’s mother, and followed all leads, but couldn’t find him. The police suspected he might have killed himself rather than be taken.

In America, Louie was everywhere. He was in the papers and on the radio, he did a speaking tour for the War Department, he accepted awards. Everyone wanted to hear his story. Louie kept up a good façade, but his experience had left its mark. He began to get anxiety attacks and the Bird haunted his dreams. He started to drink too much.

On a trip to Miami, he saw a girl at a club, and knew right then he had to marry her. He happened upon her at the beach the next day by chance: her name was Cynthia Applewhite. She was twenty years old, and she had lived near Torrance. She was popular, educated, and from a wealthy family. Louie asked her out, and two weeks later he proposed. Despite Cynthia’s positive force in his life, Louie’s past was catching up to him. He was increasingly in bad shape emotionally, and knew he was asking a lot of Cynthia, but pressed for a wedding nonetheless. He quit smoking and drinking, and left the air corps. He worried that as a middle class Italian, Cynthia’s parents wouldn’t find him good enough, but they were more concerned about a hasty marriage than their son-in-law’s background.

Louie decided to start training for another shot at the Olympics. On May 25, 1946, Louie and Cynthia got married at the Church of Our Savior in Torrance, California.

Thirty-five: Coming Undone

Former captives of the Japanese, known as Pacific POWs, suffered from many ailments. On average, they’d lost over half their bodyweight while in captivity; most had suffered from beriberi, respiratory problems, and other serious health issues. Pacific POWs died at almost four times the rate of other men their age, and were hospitalized more frequently. The mental issues were worse. At least 85% of Pacific POWs suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, which brought flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety attacks. Many committed suicide. Men would hoard food, hallucinate, and fly into fits of rage. Many hated Asian people, and many became alcoholics. They felt lonely, angry, afraid, and hungered for revenge.

This was not foremost in Louie’s mind as he enjoyed a honeymoon with Cynthia, made enough money on investments to secure an apartment, and started Olympic training. His running times were good and things looked promising, but his war injury kicked in.

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