Unbroken: Events and Characters

Questions and Answers

What did 'B Niju Ku' mean that Louie saw written on a building?

B-29 (correct)

B-24

B-17

B-50

What was the name of the B-29 bomber plane Louie saw for the first time flying over his camp?

Tokyo Rose

What did the Bird hit Louie with to take him down in chapter 25?

His belt with a brass buckle

What did the piece of paper brought in by the two strangers say?

It was a transcript of an NBC radio broadcast that announced his death Signup and view all the answers

What was the show called that the Radio Tokyo men wanted Louie to come speak on?

Postman Calls Signup and view all the answers

Who first heard about the radio broadcast stating Louie was alive?

Linda Moody Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Sylvia's husband Harvey while he was stationed in Holland?

He was wounded Signup and view all the answers

In Louie's broadcast, what did he ask his father to take care of while he was a prisoner?

His guns Signup and view all the answers

Did Louie read the second radio broadcast message that Radio Tokyo wrote for him?

False Signup and view all the answers

What did Louie realize after he read the transcript they wanted him to read?

That they kept him alive to use him as a propaganda tool since he was a famous athlete in the US Signup and view all the answers

How many B-29 planes flew into Tokyo on November 24?

111 Signup and view all the answers

Where did Phil get transferred to?

Zentsuji Signup and view all the answers

In December 1944, what did Phil's family receive?

News from the war department that he was alive Signup and view all the answers

What did Cecy do when she found out Phil was alive?

Quit her job and moved back to Indiana to wait for him Signup and view all the answers

What were the Japanese guards doing with the relief packages being sent to the camp from the Red Cross?

Stealing the food and cigarettes Signup and view all the answers

What did the POWs do for entertainment at Christmas when they found a trunk full of theatrical props?

Put on a Christmas play Signup and view all the answers

What play did they perform?

Cinderella Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the Bird right before the new year in Chapter 26?

He was ordered to leave Omori Signup and view all the answers

What did the officers do to the Bird at his going away 'party'?

Gathered poop samples from sick prisoners and added it to gravy and served it to the Bird over rice cakes Signup and view all the answers

What did they find in the Bird's office after he left?

Letters to the prisoners from their families Signup and view all the answers

Who was the new POW that came to Omori from Ofuna that Louie recognized?

Bill Harris Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the 150 prisoners held at Palawan Islands when an American convoy was spotted?

They burned them alive Signup and view all the answers

How many prisoners escaped the Philippines burning?

11 Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the next camp Louie was transferred to at the end of February?

4B or Naoetsu Signup and view all the answers

Who was the person in charge at Naoetsu camp?

The Bird Signup and view all the answers

What was in the small boxes in the barracks of the new camp?

Cremated remains of 60 Australian POWs that died there Signup and view all the answers

What did the Australians nickname the Bird?

Whatabastard Signup and view all the answers

How many miles did Louie and the others walk to the labor jobs every day?

Six miles each way Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bird tell the prisoners on April 13?

President Roosevelt was dead Signup and view all the answers

After Louie got hurt at the coal job, what job did he beg the Bird for to get his full rations back?

He had to clean the pig's sty with only his hands Signup and view all the answers

How many new POWs were brought into the camp to join the already 300 prisoners?

400 Signup and view all the answers

What news did the new POWs bring with them?

Germany had been defeated Signup and view all the answers

How did the Bird get sick?

The cook was pouring bacteria/poop water in his rice for over a week Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Louie and the other officers after the Bird found out someone stole some fish?

They were lined up and punched in the face for two hours Signup and view all the answers

How many punches did they estimate they received?

220 Signup and view all the answers

What does emaciated mean?

Abnormally thin, weak, usually because of illness or lack of food Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bird tell Louie about the goat?

Goat die, you die Signup and view all the answers

What did Louie have to do when the goat died?

Hold a six-foot beam above his head Signup and view all the answers

How long did Louie hold the beam above his head?

37 minutes Signup and view all the answers

Who was the pilot of the plane that dropped a bomb on August 6, 1945?

Paul Tibbets Signup and view all the answers

Where did they drop the big bomb?

Hiroshima Signup and view all the answers

Where was the next atomic bomb dropped?

Nagasaki Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the Japanese guards on August 15?

They all left the camp Signup and view all the answers

The Japanese guard told the prisoners he hoped that the prisoners would help Japan fight the 'red menace.' Who was he referring to?

The Soviet Union Signup and view all the answers

While bathing in the river, what did the American plane flying over signal to the prisoners?

That the war was over Signup and view all the answers

What did an American plane drop first over the camp?

Some chocolate and cigarettes Signup and view all the answers

Where was the Bird when the war ended?

He vanished Signup and view all the answers

In Phil's camp, what did they find when they hiked down to the nearest villages the next day?

Mostly ghost towns Signup and view all the answers

What two words did the POWs paint on the ground for the American fighter planes to see?

Food smokes Signup and view all the answers

How many days did the Japanese guards deceive the prisoners and not tell them the war was over at Naoetsu?

Five Signup and view all the answers

What fruit spilled all over the ground when the cargo boxes broke open?

Peaches Signup and view all the answers

How many prisoners had Japan held during this war?

132000 Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of Americans held as POWs by the Japanese died during the war?

37 Signup and view all the answers

What happened on September 2, 1945?

Japan surrendered Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the men's stomachs after gorging on so much food?

Diarrhea Signup and view all the answers

What did Commander John Fitzgerald do to the train station manager that refused to send a train?

Punched him Signup and view all the answers

Who stays behind at camp to make sure the really sick prisoners get liberated?

Fitzgerald Signup and view all the answers

What was the last thing Louie saw at camp as the train pulled away?

Staff and Japanese civilian guards saluting them Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Events and Characters

Louie witnessed "B Niju Ku" on a building in Tokyo, indicating the presence of B-29 bombers.
The first B-29 bomber Louie saw was named "Tokyo Rose."
The Bird attacked Louie with a belt that had a brass buckle in Chapter 25.
A transcript revealing Louie's death was presented to him by two strangers brought in by the Bird.

Radio Broadcasts and Propaganda

Louie was invited to speak on the Radio Tokyo show named "Postman Calls."
Linda Moody at the Office of War Information first learned about the broadcast announcing Louie's survival.
Louie's broadcast included a message to his father asking him to care for his guns while he was imprisoned.
Louie refused to read the second radio broadcast message that the Radio Tokyo men prepared for him.

Experiences and Conditions in POW Camps

On November 24, 111 B-29 planes flew over Tokyo.
Phil was transferred to a camp named Zentsuji, and his family received news of his survival in December 1944.
The Japanese guards were known to steal relief packages sent by the Red Cross, taking food and cigarettes meant for the POWs.
For Christmas, prisoners used theatrical props to perform "Cinderella" as a form of entertainment.

Notable Incidents and Changes in Camps

Following a New Year's incident, the Bird was ordered to leave Omori camp.
As a parting gift, officers served the Bird a concoction made from poop samples and gravy.
Louie recognized new POW Bill Harris among the prisoners transferred from Ofuna to Omori.
In February, Louie was transferred to a new camp called 4B or Naoetsu, where the Bird was in charge.

Abuse and Survival Tactics

New barracks contained cremated remains of 60 Australian POWs.
The Bird was nicknamed "Whatabastard" by Australian prisoners.
Daily labor involved a six-mile trek each way, while Louie endured a degrading job of cleaning a pigsty to regain his full food rations.
On April 13, Louie received news of President Roosevelt's death from the Bird.

Final Days of War

Following a theft of fish, Louie and other officers were beaten for two hours, estimated at 220 punches.
Emaciated prisoners faced harsh conditions, with the Bird threatening Louie if a goat died.
Louie held a beam above his head for 37 minutes as punishment when the goat passed away.

Atomic Bombs and Aftermath

The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by pilot Paul Tibbets on August 6, followed by another in Nagasaki.
August 15 marked the day Japanese guards abandoned the camp, and prisoners were told to assist Japan against the "red menace," referring to the Soviet Union.
American planes signaled the end of the war by dropping chocolate and cigarettes over the camp.
POWs painted "Food smokes" on the ground for American planes to spot.

Post-War Conditions

Japanese guards delayed informing prisoners of the war's end for five days at Naoetsu.
A shipment of luxury fruit, specifically peaches, spilled when cargo boxes broke open during POWs' liberation.
Japan held around 132,000 prisoners during the war, with a 37% mortality rate among American POWs.
On September 2, 1945, Japan officially surrendered, leading to chaotic but joyous scenes among the liberated POWs.

Final Considerations

Commander John Fitzgerald exhibited authority by physically confronting a train station manager who refused to send a train for the POWs.
Fitzgerald remained at the camp to ensure the sick prisoners could also be liberated.
Louie’s last sight as he left the camp was the staff and Japanese guards giving them a salute.

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Description

This quiz focuses on key events and characters from the book 'Unbroken', including Louie's experiences with B-29 bombers and his time in POW camps. Test your knowledge on significant moments and the impact of radio broadcasts during the war. Dive deep into the resilience and challenges faced by Louie Zamperini.