This photo of Louis Zamperini is when he was in the US Army Infantry at Camp Roberts, CA for a short duration in 1941. Photo could have been taken during basic training or after basic training or Basic Infantry NCO Course at Camp Roberts. Louis may have been chosen for this promotional photo due to his popularity as a track star. He first enlisted for AAF to be a fighter pilot of a P-38 in early 1941, and was sent to the Hancock College of Aeronautics in Santa Maria, CA. However, Louis "washed out" of the initial training course due to jitteriness and airsickness. He got a part-time job as a movie extra in Hollywood and was working on the set for a movie "They Died with Their Boots On", starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. He received a letter latter in 1941 stating that he was to report for the draft into the Army. On September 29, 1941 he joined the Army again before his draft date arrived. After Army Basic Training Louis was an official Private as a Rifleman in the Army Infantry (Unit Unknown). However, the Army had different plans for him. He had signed papers upon his first military separation that stated the Army could put him back into the AAF and that is what the Army did. In November or December1941, Louis was sent to Ellington Field in Houston, Texas for Basic Officer Training & Basic Bombardier training. He then was sent to Midland Army Airfield in Midland, Texas and this time Louis completed his flight training and was commissioned a 2Lt in the Army Air Force (AAF) about August 1942. Note: Some information taken from books, "Devil At My Heels" second printing 1956, revised edition 2011 and "Unbroken" , first printing 2010 along with personal information - Gary McJimsey
