Your Exceptional Life

I received an email from Senator Boxer today. While I don’t discuss politics on this blog, her email contained some great history of Port Chicago. I’ve excerpted it:

Port Chicago was the site of a major disaster on the night of July 17, 1944 when an explosion rocked the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, an ammunition storage facility where ships were loaded with bombs, shells, mines, and other explosive devices to be used in World War II. That night, nearly 5 thousand tons of ammunition exploded, killing 320 service members (most of whom were African-American), wounding hundreds more, and destroying the surrounding town of Port Chicago.

Shortly after the explosion, those stationed at Port Chicago were ordered to resume work at a new site a few miles away. The enlisted personnel refused, citing unsafe conditions. The Navy arrested hundreds of sailors on various charges, and 50 men were charged with mutiny. All were African American, and all were convicted.

Thurgood Marshall took up the case of the Port Chicago 50, suing the Navy on behalf of the 50 sailors. Although he could not get the conviction overturned, he did win clemency for the Port Chicago 50. In investigations, no cause was ever determined for the explosion and fires, in part because so much damage was done to the area. One survivor sought, and ultimately received, a pardon from President Bill Clinton in 1999.

I thought that was pretty interesting history for our area and I plan to do some more research on the subject.