Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago sits in the eastern part of San Francisco Bay. It was a vital port for sending troops and supplies to the Pacific Theatre in WWII. An unfortunate accident cost the lives of 320 men on July 17, 1944.

People for miles around felt a tremendous explosion that lit up the night sky 40 miles east of San Francisco. The accident occurred as members of the military loaded bombs and munitions onto two ships headed for war. Anyone within 1,000 feet of the pier died. Another 390 people were injured.

The death toll heavily impacted service members of color. More than 200 deaths were young African-American sailors serving in the military. At the time, African-Americans were in segregated units.

More than 250 surviving members of the unit refused to go back to work, citing a lack of safety. Many of these men were found guilty of mutiny. A judge sentenced 50 of them to 15 years' hard labor. The brave sailors recognized that their treatment was unfair. Their trial shed light on the rampant racism that existed in the military at the time of the Port Chicago disaster.

This tragic accident forced the desegregation of the Navy. In the larger context of history, this led to the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

Getting to the Port Chicago Naval Magazine memorial means obtaining military clearance. The site is on a working weapons depot, after all. A Park Ranger escorts you to the coastal area. The gray bay still harbors the ruined pier pilings that stick out of the water. A few stone tablets display the names of the victims.