Burgett was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up on the city's west side. In the opening paragraph of his memoir Currahee!, he wrote that he was determined to follow his older brother Elmer, who had joined the Paratroops in 1942.
Burgett, a native of Detroit, Michigan, grew up on the city's west side. He wrote in his memoir Currahee! that he was determined to follow his older brother Elmer, who joined the Paratroops in 1942.