Reddit reviews Devil at My Heels: A Heroic Olympian's Astonishing Story Of Survival As A Japanese Pow In World War Ii

He also wrote a book himself, Devil at My Heels. Disclaimer: He was my aunt's (wife to dad's brother) uncle.

Louis Zamperini

• A kid from Torrance, CA with Italian parents who spoke no English, so he got picked on constantly. Had to learn to fight at a young age.
  
  
• Joined the track team in high school. Ran all through the mountains and was so good he made USC and then the Olympic track team. Roomed with Jesse Owens during Hitler's 1936 Olympics. Later set the 4:08 mile record which stood for 15 years.
  
  
• Joined the Air Force in 1941 and survived 3 plane crashes. During the third, they were lost at sea for 47 days, surviving on captured rainwater and caught fish and birds eaten raw. Several times they were shot at by Japanese planes.
  
  
• He was captured by the Japanese as a (non-registered) POW, and survived brutal torture from a Japanese officer known as "The Bird". He went on to personally forgive most of his captors.
  
  He just died less than 30 days ago, on July 2, 2014, at the age of 97.
  
  His book, Devil at My Heels was excellent.

Before I read Unbroken, my dad gave me a copy of "Devil At My Heels", Louie's autobiography. I highly recommend giving his personal memoir a read for those who enjoyed Unbroken. I grew up near Torrance, my father heard him speak at a Night of Heroes at his church. Remarkable man, wish I heard his voice.
http://www.amazon.com/Devil-My-Heels-Olympians-Astonishing/dp/0062118854

Is it Devil At My Heels by Louis Zamperini and David Rensin?