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Navy Exonerates Port Chicago Sailors on 80th Anniversary of Deadly Explosion
The U.S. Navy exonerated Black sailors charged with mutiny after the 1944 Port Chicago explosion, marking the 80th anniversary of the disaster.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro speaks with families and loved ones of descendants of the Port Chicago disaster. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist William Bennett IV)
On the 80th anniversary of the catastrophic explosion at Port Chicago, the U.S. Navy has officially exonerated the Black sailors who were charged with mutiny following the disaster. The explosion on July 17, 1944, at the naval base in Contra Costa County, California, killed 320 men, many of whom were Black sailors.
The exoneration ceremony took place on Saturday morning near the remnants of the loading docks where the explosion occurred. Over 400 family members, community activists, and elected officials gathered to commemorate the event, which marked the deadliest military disaster on mainland American soil during World War II. A wreath and flowers were released into Suisun Bay in honor of the fallen sailors.
Morris Soublet Sr., a 22-year-old sailor who narrowly avoided the explosion by returning to his barracks early that night, was among the lucky few who survived. His son, Richard Soublet, who only learned the full story of his father's experience after his own military service in Vietnam, expressed relief and hope that the exoneration would honor the sailors' sacrifices.
The explosion was followed by the court-martial of 258 Black sailors who protested the unsafe conditions by refusing to continue their hazardous duties. They were charged with mutiny and disobeying orders, while 50 who continued to resist were jailed for the rest of the war. The Navy has now recognized that these men were acting out of self-preservation and a lack of safety measures rather than rebellion.
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, who announced the exoneration, emphasized that the sailors' actions were a desperate attempt to protect themselves and their fellow servicemen. He condemned the historical treatment of these men and vowed that they would no longer be remembered as mutineers.
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Del Toro acknowledged the long fight for justice led by family members and historians, including Rev. Diane McDaniel and Robert Allen. Allen, who dedicated much of his life to documenting the Port Chicago disaster, passed away just a week before the exoneration was announced.
Robert Harris, whose uncle was among the victims, expressed a sense of closure despite the lingering bitterness over the historical mistreatment of Black servicemen. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging and rectifying past wrongs.
The exoneration represents a significant step in addressing historical injustices and honoring the memory of those who perished in the Port Chicago disaster.
