320 Americans Killed in WWII Naval Magazine Accident
On the evening of July 17, 1944, residents in the San Francisco east bay area were jolted awake by a massive explosion that cracked windows and lit up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were instantly killed when two ships being loaded with ammunition for the Pacific theater troops blew up. It was WWII's worst home front disaster.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial preserves the site of the deadliest home front disaster of World War II, honoring those who lost their lives or were affected by the munitions explosion on July 17, 1944. The disaster and its aftermath illuminated the issues of segregation and racial inequality in the military, and today the memorial serves as a springboard for exploring social justice in our society.
The munitions explosion at Port Chicago Naval Magazine on July 17, 1944, was the largest stateside disaster of World War II. The blast registered 3.4 on the Richter scale, was felt more than 450 miles away and resulted in 320 fatalities and approximately 400 injured. The memorial is located at the site of the explosion, the final resting place for the un-recovered casualties.
Following the explosion, as before, surviving sailors received unequal treatment based on their race. Many African American sailors refused to return to work soon after the explosion and 50 were convicted of mutiny in the largest naval trial of its kind in US history. These convictions still stand today despite efforts to overturn them.
The Port Chicago explosion, the mutiny trial, and the response of African American communities to these events exposed the shameful injustices of racism in the military. These events were a catalyst for the Navy, the armed services, and ultimately, the nation to weigh the costs of racial segregation. The memorial serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles for equality and social justice today.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine was the largest ammunition transshipment facility on the West Coast and was essential to the success of the war effort in the Pacific Theater; much of the ammunition and bombs used by US forces in the Pacific passed through the hands of sailors at Port Chicago. This transshipment facility continues to operate today under the US Army.
Remembering the Fallen
Below, is a list of those who were killed in the Port Chicago explosion.
* indicates individual's remains were positively identified (these total 48.)
S2c James C. Akins CM3c Clarence Allen, Jr. Lt. (jg) Maxie L. Anderson * S2c Leslie K. Asahe S2c Isaiah Ash, Jr. S1c David Bacon, Sr. S2c Henry W. Bailey * CM3c Leonard Baker S2c David Barnes, Jr. S2c Joseph Battle S2c Raphel O. Beasom S2c Silas Bell Lt. Thomas L. Blackman S2c David E. Blackwell S2c Thimon Blaylock S1c Johnnie C. Borders CM1c James H. Born * S2c L.T. Bowden * S2c Charles L. Boyce S2c Alvin Brewer, Jr. S2c James Bridges* S1c Walter L. Brooks, Jr. F1c Johnnie L. Broome S1c Ernest L. Burnett S1c Wilbert Calvin S2c Lawrence L. Carlin S2c Robert A. Carter Lt.(jg) John B. Christenbury* S2c Eddie L. Clark S1c Eugene Coffee, Jr. * F1c Bill Coleman S2c Enos Coley * S2c Arthur A. Connor S2c Frank Cooley S2c Norman H. Craig S2c Eddie L. Cross S2c Jessie V. Crimp S1c Herman L. Curtis S2c Horace Daniel, Sr. S2c Huby Dansby S2c Floyd M. Davis S2c Henry J. Davis S2c Willie Davis S2c James L. Devaughn S2c Nathaniel Dixson S2c Rayfield D. Doyle S2c Herman Dunbar S2c Arthur L. Ebenezer F2c Dunton I. Edwards S1c Herbert L. Edwards S2c Junice C. Ervin S2c Luther Eusery S2c Ananias Evans, Sr. S2c Horace Evans S2c John H. Evans S2c William L. Evans S2c John B. Felisbret S2c Robert L. Ferguson CM3c Clarence S. Fields S2C Jessie Finney S2c Matthew Forkner, Jr. S1c Joseph R. Francis S2c Ford S. Franklin, Jr. S2c Artie J. Frazier CM1c Elmer B. Froid S1c Gerard Gabriel * S2c Bennie L. Gaines S2c Elgar Gant S1c(CH) John S. Gibson S2c Jethero Gilbert S1c Samuel Glenn, Jr. S1c Lewis D. Goudblock S2c Harry L. Graham S1c William H. Green S2c Ross B. Grinage S2c A.D. Hamilton S2c Ernest E. Hamilton S2c Emaral Hamm S2c George R. Hammond S2c John W. Hannan, Jr. S2c Joe H. Hardaway S2c John L. Harding S2c B.C. Harris S2c Roscoe A. Harris S2c Phillip H. Harrison * S2c Clifford Harvey, Jr. S1c George W. Hayes S2c D.C. Haywood S1c Douglas L. Hector S1c David L. Higginbotham S1c Bobie R. Higgs S1c Cluster Hill * S2c Joseph Hills S2c Charles W. Hite S2c(SO) Rudolph V. Holden S2c Stanford Holley MoMM3c(T) Edred L. Holmes S2c Ernest M. Howard S2c Frank J. Howard S2c Earl H. Hudson * S2c Glen Hughes * S2c Leroy Hughes *
S2c Theodore L. Hughes S2c William Humphrey, Jr. S2c Ross D. Hunt * S2c Wave Hunt S2c Rudolph W. Hunter CM3c(T) Leroy Ingram S1c D.C. Jackson S2c James Jackson CM2c James E.M. Jackson S1c Levi R. Jackson * S2c Paul E. Jackson S2c Robert A. Jackson, Jr. CM3c Samuel Jackson, Jr. S1c Daniel L. Jamison S1c Willie Jennings * S2c Clarence Johnson * S2c Earl T. Johnson S1c Gabe Johnson * S1c Harold Johnson S2c Henry L. Johnson Lt. (jg) James B. Johnson * S1c Milton F. Johnson * S1c Daniel L. Jones S1c Ivery L. Jones S1c Henry Joseph, Jr. S1c Samuel Kearney S1c(SC)(B) Calvin King S2c Clifton King S2c Verne Land S1c Sidney J. LaPorte, Jr. S1c Willie Law, Jr. * S2c Cleo Lawson S2c Caludius W. Leslie S2c(SO) Aaron A. Lewis S2c T.C. Lewis S2c Lemuel M. Long * S2c Robert Lyons S2c Beattie J. Makins S1c(CM) Rossell E. Martin S2c(CM) Alonmo Martin S1c Daniel Massie S1c Lawrence Mathews, Jr.* S2c Charles A. Mayfield * S1c Mitchell McClam CCM(T) Clarence K. McFarland * S1c Calvin Milton S2c Willis Mettles * S1c Ernest C. Miller MoMM3c Ira Miller, Jr. S2c Otis K. Miller * S2c Marshall Moore, Sr. CM2c Thomas Moore S2c William P. Moore Ens. Gilbert Mordoh S2c Eddie L. Neal S1c James H. Nixon S2c William H. Otky, Sr. S2c Auguster Packer S1c(SC) William F. Paschal S2c Robert F. Peete S2c Lester L. Perry S2c Joe H. Person * S2c Alfred Phillips CM3c Charles Pickett S2c Houston Porter S2c McCoy Porter S2c David W. Potts SM3c(T) Samuel H. Powell CM2c Joe C. Preuitt S2c Arthur Reid, Jr. CM3c James E. Rhodes S2c Clyde F. Richardson S2c James A. Roberts S1c Mango Roberts MoMM3c Alphonse Robinson S2c Fred Robinson, Jr. S1c Eugene J. Rogers S2c Robert Sanders * S2c Wesley Saunders Lt. Roland Schindler * CM3c Carl C. Scott Lt. Vernon C. Shaner S1c Joseph J. Sheckles S2c Willie Sims * S1c Isaac E. Smith * S1c James P. Smith S1c Ellis Taylor S2c Joseph M. Tolson MA2c Maxie D. Towles S1c(CM) Mervin L. Van Dunk S1c Issiah Wade S2c Charles Walker, Jr. S2c Walter L. Walker, Jr. * S2c Woodrow L. Walker CM2c(T) William C. Warren* S2c James L. Washington * S2c Woodrow Washington, Jr. CM3c Daniel West Lt. (jg) Raymond R. White * S1c Joseph B. White S2c Arthur Whitmore S2c Mitchell A. Williams * S2c Maryland E. Wilson GM3c Oliver Wilson S2c Samuel D. Wilson Lt. Harold A. Wood * S2c James E. Woods * S2c Walter E. Wright S2c Charles E. Wyatt
S1c Wayland E. Causey S1c Rudy J. Cebella S1c Robert E. Chase S2c Claude L. Chastain SM3c John J. Gee Lt. (jg) Ralph B. Hartmann S1c Clarence R. Hollandsworth S1c Kenneth H. Muirhead S1c Jesse W. Mulligan S1c Lloyd J. Quick S1c Martin J. Setzer S1c George H. Singer S1c Listern L. Small
Elmer A. Andraschko, Cook Albert A. Arsenian, Seaman William C. Benhart, Oiler Martin M. Cacic, Seaman Ray E. Davis, Wiper Donald L. Dennon, Wiper Thomas E. Dorsey, Seaman George H. Falk, Bos’n Marcus J. Franklin, Engr. Alfred D. Gilbert, Engr. James R. Gilstrap, Seaman Joseph D. Grange, Jr, Engr. Fred Hayes, Seaman Delbert R. Hutchinson, Fireman Peter C. Jepsen, Ch. Engr. Charles A. Johnson, Utilityman Clifford R. Johnson, Utilityman Ralph A. Lantz, Seaman John A. Louis, Engr. Frank C. Malizia, Carpenter Edward Maniago, Messman Harry E. Nathan, Seaman Jesse Porter, Sr., Ch. Cook Richard D. Roberson, Seaman Aaron C. Sangster, Jr., Seaman Ellsworth M. Shaw, Oiler Howard A. Smith, 1st Mate Andrew Suchan, Fireman Robert F. Townsend, 2nd Mate Harding E. White, Messman George H. Witt, Utilityman
GM3c Jack L. Albin GM2c Delbert P. Bergstrom S1c(RM) Jack P. Bowman GM3c John G. Hall S1c George D. Hovland S1c Andy Morrow GM2c William H. Mulryan S1c Henry J. Myers S1c Woodrow A. Riiff S1c Jacob D. Risenhoover S1c William R. Robinson S1c Charles H. Rondell S1c Jay Rose, Jr. S1c Otis K. Ross S1c Woodrow W. Saint S1c Arnold T. Sanders S1c Harold S. Sano
Robert D. Bailey, Utilityman Robert E. Bartlett, Messman John D. Bell, Asst. Purser Frederick E. Bentley, Seaman Donald H. Cheney, Elect. Hugh E. Crawford, Maint. Man Floyd F. Crist, Seaman Albert C. Dinde, Messman Wallace M. Durland, Seaman Kenneth J. Eulrick, Seaman Burke E. Falor, Utilityman Eugene W. Garrett, FiremanRobert K. Henricksen, Seaman Elis Henriksen, Engr. * Johannes H. Justesen, Steward Walter F. Kannberg, Engr. Robert E. Keim, 2nd Mate Joseph B. Koeninger, Seaman Karl L. Mallery, Engr. Lloyd K. McDaniel, Seaman Kenneth M. Moen, 3rd Mate Robert S. Morill, Oiler Isadore E. Narinsky, Seaman Roy L. Nelson, Carpenter David R. Parsons, 3rd Mate Mike Pearson, Oiler Ellis B. Pinson, Engr. Richard V. Potter, Fireman Virgil R. Sandberg, Engr. Albert R. Scott, Ch. Mate Lester S. Skance, Seaman Howard W. Sullivan, Seaman Robert J. Sullivan, Master Glen E. Thompson, Engr. * Louis J. Widner, Messman * John A. Williams, Ch. Engr.
Lawrence C. Bustrack, Macco Co. Office Manager * Gundar Halverson, Macco Co. Timekeeper * Raymond V. Hunnicutt, Brakeman Navy Employee Thomas D. Hunt, Macco Co. Project Engr. * Harry A. Middleton, Engineman Navy Employee Fred Zanarini, Chauffeur Navy Employee *
Pvt. Elwin A. Blanke, Marine Corps * BM1c Peter G. Broda, Coast Guard MM1c William G. Degryce, Coast Guard McMM3c Edward J. Portz, Coast Guard * S1c Charles H. Riley, Coast Guard S2c James C. Sullivan, Coast Guard *
Last updated: November 15, 2023
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