16
four hundred athletes killed: “400 Stars Give Lives in Service,”
, December 30, 1944; Walt Dobbins, “I May Be Wrong,”
(Neb.)
, January 6, 1944.
17
Louie not allowed food, clothes: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
18
Louie assessed by physicians: “Lou Zamperini Has Won Final Race on Track,”
(N.Y.)
, September 13, 1945.
19
“It’s finished”: “Zamperini Drifted 1,200 Miles on Raft,”
, September 14, 1945.
20
“Darling, we will”: Sylvia Zamperini, letter to Louis Zamperini, August 31, 1945.
21
Pete learns Louie free: “Lou Zamperini’s Release Thrills Brother at NTC,”
(U.S. Naval Training Center, San Diego), September 14, 1945.
22
Preparing for homecoming, family quotations: “Zamperini’s Mother Sheds Tears of Joy,” undated article from papers of Peter Zamperini, NPN.
23
Freeing Rokuroshi: George Steiger, “Captain George Steiger: A POW Diary,”
http://www.fsteiger.com/gsteipow.html
(accessed October 2, 2009); Emerson, pp. 86–87; Giles, pp. 155–65; Kerr,
, pp. 288–89.
24
History of American flag: Giles, pp. 156–57.
25
Kelsey Phillips learns Allen is free: “Lt. Allen Phillips Back in Care of U.S. Army, Mother Informed,”
, September, 1945.
26
“That day”: Ibid.
27
Louie remains in Okinawa: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Louis Zamperini, letter to Edwin Wilber, May 1946.
28
Hospital parties: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.
29
Louie startling USC recruiter: Ibid.
30
