A life redeemed DAV life member Louis Zamperini’s story is one of survival, but new film shows the battle he faced when he returned home F our years after the premiere of “His experiences were the movie “Unbroken”—based extraordinary,” said Hunt. “As the on Laura Hillenbrand’s bestselling actor, it was important for me to book of the same name—a sequel have some form of understanding is set to debut. “Unbroken: Path to of what it meant to me in my life. Redemption,” opening in theaters If we respect everyone’s trauma— Sept. 14, picks up where the 2014 and try to be empathetic—then we film left off and dives deeper into can understand it better and help the internal struggles faced by them heal.” many veterans returning from war. Veterans with invisible “Unbroken: Path to Redemption” wounds—whether post-traumatic continues the true story of stress, traumatic brain injuries, Olympian, World War II prisoner substance abuse disorders or other of war and DAV life member mental health challenges—can Louis Zamperini. After surviving almost all relate to the internal a plane crash, weeks of floating strife Zamperini experienced, “Unbroken: Path to Redemption” official on a makeshift raft in the Pacific documented so thoroughly in poster. (Courtesy of WTA Group/ and then years of torture as a Hillenbrand’s book. DAV has Universal 1440 Entertainment) prisoner of war in Japan, Zamperini long been an advocate for quality finally returned to his home in California, seemingly care, resources and research into helping veterans unbroken, but his internal battle and spiritual journey and their families who are suffering from service-had just begun. Haunted by nightmares of his torment, connected trauma and mental health issues. DAV Zamperini saw himself as anything but a hero. aided Hillenbrand during her initial research into “I think of war as not so much an assault on the Zamperini’s story, help she said she is grateful for. body; it is perhaps more so an assault on the mind,” Prior to the film’s release date, veterans in said Hillenbrand, who spent four years researching Washington, D.C., were invited to screen the film. the book, working closely with Zamperini. “It damages DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director people emotionally. It wounds people emotionally. We Garry Augustine said the issues depicted in the movie like to think the war is over and everybody goes back are relevant to veterans today, just as much as they to being fine, but that’s not what happens. People carry have been to the generations of veterans before. those wars out of the theaters and into their homes and “Louie’s story is a reminder to all of us that we can’t their lives. They need help often, and struggle their way heal ourselves alone,” said Augustine. “We know more out of it. Louie is a perfect example of that.” today about mental health and the effects of war than we Samuel C. Hunt, who portrays Zamperini, said did when he came home after World War II, but today’s Zamperini’s very open account of his struggles with veterans are facing the same life-altering experiences alcoholism and hopelessness after his return home— that can make or break them. It is up to us—as fellow and how his mental state affected his family—is an veterans and as human beings—to provide the support example of human resiliency. and resources our heroes deserve.” ■ DAV.ORG | FACEBOOK.COM/DAV | @DAVHQ | DAVHQ 35
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A life redeemed
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