Deep in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, signed into law December 20, 2019 is section 50N to remove the stigma on those convicted of mutiny after the largest mainland disaster in World War II.
SEC. 540N. Sense of Congress on the Port Chicago 50.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the American people should recognize the role of racial bias during the era in which the prosecution and convictions of the Port Chicago 50 took place for mutiny following the deadliest home-front disaster in World War II, in which 320 were killed on July 17, 1944, during a munitions explosion; and
(2) in light of the well-documented challenges associated with uniformed service by African Americans during this era, the Secretary of the Navy should, as appropriate, recommend executive action in favor of the 49 remaining Sailors with general court-martial convictions and the 207 remaining Sailors with summary court-martial convictions.
The President is finding reason to pardon every scumbag he knows. He should work on this injustice.
The 1944 Port Chicago disaster occurred at the naval magazine and resulted in the largest domestic loss of life during World War II. 320 sailors and civilians were instantly killed on July 17, 1944, when the ships they were loading with ammunition and bombs exploded. The majority of the deaths were African American sailors working for the racially segregated military. The explosion and its aftermath led to the largest Naval mutiny in US history, and it and the subsequent trial became major catalysts for the United States Navy to desegregate following the war. — National Park Service Port Chicago Memorial
In 1994 after a congressional request the Navy found no reason to overturn the mutiny convictions and sentences for the men who refused to load shells two weeks later.
The US Naval Institute article (paywall) states “It set them up for failure and punished them when they failed. The Navy broke the rules regarding the responsibility of military command, and it needs to claim the burden of responsibility for what happened at Port Chicago.” However the same article lays out rationale for upholding the sentences.
In spite of the fact that just three weeks had passed since hundreds of their shipmates had perished; in spite of the fact that as survivors, they had been charged with the traumatic duty of cleaning up the human remains; in spite of the fact that they were returning to the same unsafe working conditions that had led to the explosion, and that they had been lied to about the volatility of the munitions they were handling; in spite of the fact that the Navy gave recovery leave to their white counterparts and refused it to them; in spite of all that, the ammunition-handling battalions at Port Chicago were uniformed sailors in the U.S. Navy, and they were given a direct and lawful order.
This point deserves reflection—more than has been given by most who have commented on the event over the years. It may sound cliche, but good order and discipline are the bedrock of warfare and war fighting organizations, and one of the fundamentals of good order and discipline is that the military gives the benefit of the doubt in all cases to the chain of command. There is no room for hesitation or disbelief; for evaluating how good an order is before for deciding whether to follow it. As long as an order is not plainly illegal, bylaw, it must be carried out.
Below is a 10 minute documentary from the National Park Service. It is worth a look.
... into forgetfulness. from McMains on Vimeo.
Port Chicago is actual in the San Francisco Area. There is a difficult to get to memorial maintained by the National Park Service.
Update
Just noticed this:
WHEN:
Friday February 21st, 2020 at 8PM
Saturday February 22, 2020 at 3PM & 8PM
Sunday, February 23 at 4PM
WHERE:
Morgan-Wixson Theatre
2627 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica