CA SR69

On July 17, 1944, an explosion at Port Chicago naval base killed approximately 320 American naval personnel (200 African American enlisted men) and injured 390 others, causing an estimated $12 million in property damage and accounting for nearly one-fifth of all African American naval casualties during World War II.

After the disaster, 50 African American sailors were charged with mutiny for refusing to return to ammunition loading duties; all 50 were convicted in October 1944 after only 80 minutes of court-martial, with sentences ranging from 8 to 15 years in prison and dishonorable discharge.

The Senate urges the President and Congress to fully exonerate all sailors wrongfully court-martialed for the Port Chicago mutiny and to clear their military records of any wrongdoing or dishonorable discharge references, regardless of whether they are living or deceased.

A 1994 Navy investigation admitted racial prejudice was responsible for assigning only African American enlisted personnel to loading divisions at Port Chicago, and Congress reduced death benefits for those killed from $5,000 to $3,000 based on race.