Angelina Jolie leads tribute to WWII hero Louis Zamperini

Angelina Jolie has led the tributes to World War II hero Louis Zamperini, who passed away at the age of 97, by saying that it is a loss impossible to describe.

The 'Changeling' star added that they are all very grateful for how enriched their lives are for having known him and that they will miss him terribly, Deadline.com reported.

Universal Pictures said in a statement in the honor of the former Olympic long distance learner, who was also the subject of Angelina Jolie's upcoming directorial effort 'Unbroken,' that they are profoundly sad at this moment and all of their thoughts and prayers are with the Zamperini family.

They added that they are moving forward to the release of 'Unbroken' with a renewed sense of responsibility in bringing Zamperini's abundant life and indomitable spirit to the screen.

Zamperini was a Depression era kid who became a track prodigy and was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic team that traveled to Berlin for the 1936 games.

He didn't medal, but was so impressive that Hitler asked to meet him and when 1940 Olympics in Tokyo were cancelled due to the war, Zamperini enlisted in the Air Force in 1941.

However, when his plane went down in the Pacific during a rescue mission, Zamperini and two other crew mates survived on a raft in the hot sun for 47 days and were ultimately caught by the Japanese Navy, beginning a terrifying term of captivity that lasted until the end of the war in 1945.