Civil rights leaders and families of World War II veterans celebrated the long-awaited exonerations of 256 Black sailors who were wrongfully convicted after the 1944 Port Chicago explosion, a disaster that shined a light on deeply entrenched racial disparities in the military.

On July 17, 1944, during World War II, over 4,600 tons of ammunition detonated on a cargo ship at a munitions pier in Port Chicago, California. The blast killed 320 people, most of whom were Black, and injured about 400 others. Shocks from the blast caused widespread damage to buildings in surrounding communities and were registered as far as Nevada, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command.

While white officers were given hardship leave after the devastating explosion, Black sailors were ordered back to work, tasked with cleaning the devastated base — including the human remains of their peers — and with resuming ammunition loading.

In the absence of added safety precautions or clarification on the blast, 258 Black sailors refused to handle munitions, the U.S. Navy said. After threats of disciplinary action, 208 returned to work but were still convicted for disobeying orders. The remaining sailors, now known as the "Port Chicago 50," refused to resume work, which the Navy called an act of mutiny and sentenced the men to dishonorable discharge, 15 years of confinement, a reduced rank to E-1, and forfeiture of pay.

Sentences were later reduced but their names weren't cleared until Wednesday, on the 80th anniversary of the devastating explosion.

"The Port Chicago 50, and the hundreds who stood with them, may not be with us today, but their story lives on, a testament to the enduring power of courage and the unwavering pursuit of justice," U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said. "They stand as a beacon of hope, forever reminding us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the fight for what's right can and will prevail."

In a statement Wednesday, President Joe Biden commended the exonerations and said the Navy was "righting a historic wrong."

"Today’s announcement marks the end of a long and arduous journey for these Black Sailors and their families, who fought for a nation that denied them equal justice under law," Biden said. "May we all remember their courage, sacrifice, and service to our Nation."

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Community leaders celebrate exonerations, mourn absence of sailors

Community leaders rejoiced after a yearslong effort to clear the sailors' names and honor their legacy was realized on Wednesday. Yulie Padmore, executive director of the Port Chicago Alliance, told USA TODAY the news left her with a rollercoaster of emotions.

"It's bittersweet because the sailors are no longer with us," she said. "But I'm so grateful that their children are getting the chance to experience it in their lifetimes.”

Padmore said it was also a day for the country to celebrate as a place that could correct past wrongs.

"I think no matter what year it is, there's always going to be a lot of work to do and much to improve. But I think today is a day we celebrate the improvements that we made," Padmore said.

Jonathan Lee, a practicing attorney who leads Contra Costa County Bar Association's Port Chicago Task Force, said the exonerations cleared a mark from the men's legacy after an "80-year cry for justice." The task force was launched in 2022 to advocate for the sailors' exonerations.

"Today's action by the Navy cements the legacy of the Port Chicago 50 as catalysts for the modern civil rights movement," Lee said. "They served with honor at a time of great peril for our nation, while facing racial discrimination in every aspect of life, including their service."

In conversations with families of the sailors, Lee told USA TODAY he was always left struck by the deep wounds that the convictions left decades later.

"The men are all gone, but their families are painfully aware of what the convictions meant to these men and how it affected the way they lived their lives — and how in turn it affected their families' lives."

Port Chicago disaster left an indelible mark

On the evening of July 17, 1944, sailors were loading a cargo ship — SS E.A. Bryan — with 4,600 tons of munitions. At 10:18 p.m., a blinding flash and the sound of splintering wood filled the air as the ammunition detonated, the Naval History and Heritage Command detailed. The ship, most of the pier, and all structures within a 1,000-foot radius disintegrated, while another berthed cargo ship shattered into pieces and sank into the Suisun Bay.

Everyone near the blast died instantly. Smoke billowed two miles into the sky, the command said, and shock from the detonations caused structural damage and shattered windows in surrounding communities. Several privately owned vessels and small boats in Suisun Bay were also damaged by falling debris.

In the following weeks, the Navy Court of Inquiry conducted an investigation. The Naval History and Heritage Command said the court's report criticized Black sailors' work and drew on racial stereotypes while raising no concerns about the white officers' performance.

The punishment of Black sailors who refused to handle ammunition following the blast stirred outcry among civil rights advocates. Conviction appeals led by future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who at the time was NAACP chief counsel, along with widespread protests, prompted the release of the Port Chicago 50 from confinement in 1946.

But the fight for their records to be wiped clean wasn't realized until decades later.

Family members of the exonerated men can contact the Navy about additional information and potential Veterans Affairs benefits by emailing [email protected], or by calling 703-697-5342.