US Navy exonerates Black WWII sailors convicted after Port Chicago explosion

By Stacy M. Brown
Contributing Writer

(NNPA Newswire) — The U.S. Navy has exonerated 256 Black sailors wrongfully convicted after the catastrophic 1944 Port Chicago explosion. The move marks a significant victory in the long battle against racial injustice within the military.

On July 17, 1944, during World War II, a massive explosion at a munition’s pier in Port Chicago, California, detonated over 4,600 tons of ammunition on a cargo ship. The blast killed 320 people, predominantly Black sailors, and injured around 400 others. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, the explosion caused widespread damage, with shockwaves felt as far as Nevada.

Following the explosion, white officers were given hardship leave, while Black sailors were ordered back to work, tasked with cleaning the devastated base and handling the remains of their comrades. Despite the lack of additional safety measures or clarity on the blast’s cause, 258 Black sailors refused to handle munitions. Under threat of disciplinary action, 208 returned to work but were still convicted of disobeying orders. The remaining sailors, known as the “Port Chicago 50,” were charged with mutiny and sentenced to dishonorable discharge, 15 years of confinement, demotion to the rank of E-1, and forfeiture of pay.

Although military officials later reduced their sentences, their names were not cleared until now, on the 80th anniversary of the explosion. “The Port Chicago 50, and the hundreds who stood with them, may not be with us today, but their story lives on as a testament to the enduring power of courage and the unwavering pursuit of justice,” said U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro. “They stand as a beacon of hope, forever reminding us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the fight for what’s right can and will prevail,” Del Toro stated.

President Joe Biden lauded the exonerations, stating, “[The] announcement marks the end of a long and arduous journey for these Black sailors and their families, who fought for a nation that denied them equal justice under law. May we all remember their courage, sacrifice, and service to our nation.”

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III also emphasized acknowledging and rectifying past injustices. “The NAACP, Thurgood Marshall, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others recognized the case as a travesty at the time,” Austin wrote in a memo. “The Department of Defense must continue to learn from our past, and today’s decision reflects our commitment to reckoning with our history, even when it is painful.”

Officials said the exoneration signifies a profound milestone in the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. “We owe it to these men and their families to remember their bravery and to learn from our past,” said Del Toro. “Their courage is a beacon for future generations.”

This article originally published in the July 22, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.