Sam Goldman is the elder brother of Oscar Goldman. When Japan attacks the Pearl Harbor on Dec 07 1941, Sam is serving in the Navy in Hawaii. He has received a quarter of a million dollars from his commanding officer, and is to pass the money to a double agent at 8:00 AM. Sam is to meet the agent on the destroyer Handerson being repaired. Sam boards the Handerson, while a civilian dockworker Duke happens to be alone with him on the deck. When the Japanese attacks, Sam and Duke must leave the deck, and the closest cover is a hole in the bulkhead.