Seabiscuit was one of the first books I excerpted on my threads. I think it was around 1940 when Seabiscuit was making his comeback at Santa Anita. I justified my departure from prewar-related information by the way she presented such a compelling picture of the American state of mind at the time.
I heard an interview with the grandson of the subject of Unbroken on Hugh Hewitt's program yesterday. I better get the book.
I'm very confident you won't be disappointed. You are aware Unbroken is coming out in a few days as a movie? I'm going to finish the book before seeing it.
Also, I recorded the recent interview Tom Brokaw did of both the film's director, Angelina Jolie, and Louis Zamperini himself (shortly before he died); I'm holding off on watching it, too, until I finish the book. But I suspect with your research prowess you could find that interview archived if interested--it's called "NBC News Special: Angelina Jolie: Unbroken." It aired December 9th.
Finally, with your interest in history, you might enjoy this. Zamp was a USC Trojan, as am I; and a movement is afoot to get some significant portion of the L.A. Coliseum, where Louis ran in high school and for SC, named after him--perhaps the Zamperini Archway or some such.