*In a historic and long overdue move, the Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, announced on July 17 the full exoneration of the remaining 256 defendants convicted in the aftermath of the 1944 Port Chicago explosion. This declaration marks the end of a dark chapter in U.S. Navy history, coinciding notably with the 80th anniversary of the explosive disaster.
The Port Chicago Naval Magazine explosion in California claimed the lives of 320 individuals, injured 400 others, and caused significant infrastructure damage, including the destruction of two ships and a train. In his announcement, Secretary Del Toro expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the Sailors, civilians, Coast Guardsmen, and members of the U.S. Maritime Service affected by this tragedy.
Following the explosion in 1944, discriminatory Navy personnel policies were starkly visible. While white supervising officers were given hardship leave, the African-American Sailors, who formed the majority of the ordnance battalions, were ordered to resume ammunition handling without additional safety measures. The unjust treatment led 258 African-American Sailors to refuse further work, given the hazardous conditions.
In a stark display of the era’s racial injustices, the Navy prosecuted all 258 Sailors, with 208 facing summary courts-martial for disobeying orders after reluctantly returning to work under threat. They received Bad Conduct Discharges and had their pay docked. Although subsequent reviews moderated their penalties, the stain of the convictions remained.
The 50 Sailors who resolutely refused to work were condemned as mutineers in a mass general court-martial, infamously known as the “Port Chicago 50.” These men were dealt severe punishments, including Dishonorable Discharges, hard labor sentences, pay forfeiture, and demotions. Over time, these sentences were also reduced, and by January 1946, most were allowed to complete their service contracts.
“The Port Chicago 50, and the hundreds who stood with them, may not be with us today, but their story lives on, a testament to the enduring power of courage and the unwavering pursuit of justice,” said Secretary 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.”
The announcement of the full exoneration comes after a thorough review by the General Counsel of the Navy, who found significant legal errors in the courts-martial. The Sailors were inappropriately tried together despite having conflicting interests and were denied the right to meaningful counsel.
Furthermore, the trials occurred before the Navy’s Court of Inquiry finalized its report on the Port Chicago explosion, which later included nineteen recommendations to improve ammunition loading practices that could have been vital to their defense.
In light of this most recent review, Secretary Del Toro officially exonerated the remaining 256 defendants, affirming their innocence after nearly eight decades of wrongful convictions. This act serves as a powerful reminder of the Navy’s commitment to rectifying its historical injustices and ensuring that the narratives of those who suffered under its previous discriminatory policies are honored and remembered.
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