A Forward from the Storyteller
I’m sensitive to the fact that this might not be my story to tell. Still, I was invited to cover this event and given permission by family members of those involved in the Port Chicago Disaster. I listened, I witnessed, and now I share.
This is a story not only of tragedy, but of a long-overdue reckoning. Visiting the Port Chicago Memorial at the national park unit gave me the chance to walk the grounds where injustice unfolded and where remembrance now stands in its place.
- Looking for Port Chicago accommodations?
- Find your Concord dream hotel!
- Plan your fun
- Rent a car
Table of Contents
The Port Chicago Disaster: A Tragedy Hidden in Plain Sight
It happened on a graveyard shift, July 17, 1944. The Port Chicago Disaster unfolded at a critical naval supply base in northern California, where mostly Black sailors were ordered to hurriedly load munitions onto ships bound for the Pacific.
“It was an accident waiting to happen,” said Walt Bilofsky of the Treasure Island Museum. The men were untrained and told the explosives weren’t dangerous. Safety protocols were ignored, and two ships were docked side by side. Then, the unthinkable happened.
The explosion—equivalent to 2,000 tons of TNT—was felt as far as Nevada. Three hundred two men were killed instantly, 202 of them Black. The Port Chicago Disaster made up 15% of all Black WWII casualties.
The site of the Port Chicago Memorial now stands where that catastrophe rocked the San Francisco Bay, offering a solemn reminder of the disaster.
RELATED: Visiting Chaco Canyon | 5 Strange Secrets That Still Baffle Us Today
They died in an instant. They weren’t buried with honors. Some were buried anonymously, their headstones marked only “Unknown Sailor.”
You might think that’s the heartbreaking end of the story.
But just when you think the sorrow has crested—it takes a devastating turn.
Just When You Thought the Story Couldn't Get Worse
After helping with the clean-up efforts–you can imagine the PTSD there–survivors of the Port Chicago Disaster were relocated to another munitions port. On August 9, 1944, 259 sailors were marched to the docks and ordered to resume loading explosives.
They stopped.
When threatened with charges of mutiny, many complied out of fear. But 50 refused. They became known as the “Port Chicago 50.”
These men weren’t defiant—they were afraid. And justifiably so. Their brothers had just been vaporized. The Port Chicago Memorial commemorates not only those lost in the blast, but also those who had the courage to say no.
The Port Chicago Disaster Trial: Was It Really Mutiny?
Just eight weeks after the Port Chicago Disaster, a military trial was rushed through. The Navy had not completed its investigation, and yet 50 sailors were tried for mutiny.
“This is not 50 men on trial for mutiny,” said Thurgood Marshall. “This is the Navy on trial for its whole vicious policy toward Negroes.”
Each man should have had his own attorney, but only four were appointed. “It was an example of a travesty of justice,” said Jody Iorns of the Contra Costa Bar Association. The prosecution couldn’t even prove a conspiracy, and no direct order had been given. Yet the convictions stuck. 50 men were sentenced—some to 15 years of hard labor.
Yulee Padmore of the Port Chicago Alliance put it plainly: “During the Port Chicago trial, sailors were misrepresented.”
The Navy violated the Sixth Amendment. As Iorns reminded us, “The right to legal representation in court is a fundamental principle in criminal cases.” But instead of fairness, these young men—average age: 19—got a rushed military trial and decades of shame.
The Port Chicago Disaster trial helped catalyze the desegregation of the Navy and, eventually, the entire military. But the Port Chicago Memorial reminds us how long justice took.
Port Chicago Memorial: From Injustice to Redemption and Exoneration
It took 80 years.
In 2024, the 50 men who had been wrongfully convicted were finally exonerated. That announcement was made by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro at the Port Chicago Memorial during its annual commemoration ceremony.
“We must always gather to pay tribute,” Del Toro said a year later at the annual memorial service I attended, “because too many do not know their stories.”
Sean Coffey, Navy General Counsel, who led the exoneration investigation, followed him. “This is truly a sacred place—not only because of the lives lost, but because of the struggle of justice that went for 80 years.”
The Port Chicago Memorial now serves as both a site of mourning and a platform for education.
Port Chicago Weekend: From Tragedy to Tribute
Thursday Morning of the Port Chicago Memorial Weekend
The stories I’d been researching, interviewing and fact-checking suddenly became heartbreakingly real the moment I set foot at the Golden Gate National Cemetery.
It was Thursday morning when we gathered for “Remember & Honor: The Fallen Soldiers of Port Chicago.” A soft coastal wind tugged at the flags we carried—small flags with wooden staffs we would plant one by one at the graves of sailors who perished in an instant on July 17, 1944.
Some headstones bore names. Others read only: “Unknown Sailor.”
Daniel Castro, Superintendent of the cemetery, explained why many of the Black sailors were grouped together. “At the time of the disaster, National cemeteries were still segregated,” he said. The weight of that truth hit me like a gut punch.
At the National Cemetary gathering, I met Sherri Culpepper, who had traveled from New York with her granddaughter to honor her uncle Cyril Sheppard, one of the Port Chicago 50. Her presence reminded me why the Port Chicago Disaster still matters.
Among those planting flags were teens from the Pittsburg Youth Development Center—young people learning this history for the first time. As we walked among the rows of white stones, I realized: this isn’t just a story of the past. This is a lesson still unfolding.
“You can hear about the death toll, the numbers of dead sailors, but when you’re here and have the experience, you see all the graves, then you start to get an idea of the loss,” shared one of the students, Elisha, who was there with her friend, Faith.
Sandra Evers-Manly of the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center, an event sponsor also joined us. “Through his eyes and voice, I learned about Port Chicago,” she said of her former neighbor, a survivor.
“Their sacrifice gives us the freedom we have today,” she said addressing the students. “Lay your hand on the gravestone and say thank you. I remember you.”
That day our group visited 43 graves. The Port Chicago Memorial Weekend ensures those men are never forgotten.
Saturday at the Memorial
The 83rd Commemoration Ceremony was held at the Port Chicago Memorial itself. Families of the fallen, military leaders, and young people came together for a powerful day of remembrance.
Children and grandchildren—many of whom I met during the Port Chicago Commemoration Weekend—shared stories passed down through generations.
“I remember sitting in my Dad’s car and him telling me the story of Port Chicago,” said Spencer Sykes II, whose testimony helped with the exoneration. We spoke before the ceremony began. “He had to tell it to me over and over again to burn it in.”
These weren’t abstract footnotes in a textbook. These were flesh-and-blood Americans—burned, broken, imprisoned, and erased. But not forgotten.
Carol Cherry displayed photos of her father, Cyril Sheppard.
Chaplain Alexander Joe’s invocation set the tone: “Grant them peace as we remember. Lord, we are humbled by this.”
“The arc of the moral universe is long,” said site superintendent K. Lynn Berry, quoting Martin Luther King Jr., “but it bends toward justice.”
Then came Secretary Del Toro —the man who formally exonerated the Port Chicago 50. “We did many good deeds, did we not?” he said with a glance toward Coffey. His voice rose as he reminded us, “We must stand together in the struggle to reach the Promised Land.” Retired Navy General Counsel Coffey closed by honoring “ordinary, committed citizens who held our government to account.”
We stood for funeral honors, the sound of Taps rising into the coastal wind. Wreaths floated into the bay. The broken wooden piers watched like sentinels.
Visitors were invited to place a flower in the water or take one home. I held mine longer than expected. And when I finally let it go, it felt less like a goodbye—and more like a promise to carry their story forward.
Planning Your Visit to the Port Chicago Memorial ((Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial)
The Port Chicago Memorial (Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, one of the longest names of any National Park unit) is located in Concord, California, on the grounds of an active military base. Access is by guided tour only, and advance reservations are required.
🔗 Reserve your visit: www.nps.gov/poch/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm
The Port Chicago Memorial (PCNMNM) hosts its largest event during the annual commemoration in July. In 2024, the event reached capacity. If you plan to attend in 2025, register early.
🔗 Learn more: www.nps.gov/poch
The Port Chicago Disaster is no longer a forgotten chapter. Thanks to decades of advocacy and remembrance, the Port Chicago Memorial now stands as proof that truth endures.
Want to Save This Article?
Map Your Stay in Concord
TRAVEL DISCOUNT JUST FOR YOU!
We’ve secured exclusive UNSTOPPABLE travel discounts on select vacations and cruises. Our partners at Dunhill Travel Deals update the list almost daily! So be sure to check out today’s top travel deals.
Table of Contents
Hi, I’m Stacey
UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Travel is a travel blog focused on immersive travel that highlights food, wine and the spirituality of place. You can count on me for accurate reports and insightful analysis as your trusted travel writer since 2008.
As the author of several spiritual and walking guides, I occasionally write about life as a Camino de Santiago pilgrim. See my Amazon author page here. You may review my credentials as a professional travel writer on LinkedIn.
I hope you enjoy what I post here. You are encouraged to leave comments! Read more…
JOIN MY FREE NEWSLETTER
Enjoy this story? Then never miss the latest travel news, tips and inspiration by signing up for free:
As is common in the travel industry, UNSTOPPABLE Stacey was provided with accommodations, meals, and other compensation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, the author believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
In addition, this blog, UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Travel, contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Stacey earns a commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help reduce the costs of keeping this travel blog active.
“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for reading,” UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Wittig
Enjoy this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Please share this article with the red- and blue-colored social media buttons.
TRAVEL DISCOUNT JUST FOR YOU!
We’ve secured exclusive UNSTOPPABLE travel discounts on select vacations and cruises. Our partners at Dunhill Travel Deals update the list almost daily! So be sure to check out today’s top travel deals.
More Stories That You'll Love
The Best Travel Apps Every Italy Visitor Should Download
🛌 If I need a place near Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, I’d book again in Fiumicino and walk down to the pier to watch
Best Hikes in Picos de Europa and How to Get to Them
Explore the best hikes in Picos de Europa with this 7-day road trip itinerary featuring mountain trails, villages, gorges, pilgrimage sites and scenic drives.
What Gear Do You Need When Planning Route 66 Trips?
Looking for Route 66 accommodations? Find your dream Route 66 retro motel! Plan your fun and get your kicks on Route 66 Rent a
2 thoughts on “WWII Navy Men Sentenced as Mutineers—But What Really Happened? The 1944 Port Chicago Disaster Remembered at Port Chicago Memorial”
I just read your “Port Chicago Disaster” story in the Pinewood publication. Thank you for writing this tragic story that most americans are not familiar with. I was familiar with the disaster but has inspired me to learn more. Another military story that may be of interest to you again that few are aware of. “Operation Paul Bunyan” in the Joint Security Area on the Korean DMZ.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Paul. I’ll have to check out your suggestion once I’m back to Munds Park from Ireland, Portugal and Spain!