Burt Burleson was a tail-gunner in an American PBY shot down by Japanese planes off the coast of Hawaii early in 1943. Burleson was the sole survivor. He drifted for four or five days before he was rescued by Kenzo and Hiroshi Takahashi. Initially, Burleson was suspicious of the Japanese-American youths, but an angry Kenzo convinced him that they would help. Burleson stayed aboard their boat and helped them with their catch, and partook of some raw tuna. The Takahashis dropped Burleson on a beach near a community made up of haoles.