Front page of the new york age detailing the port chicago explosion in 1944. For many people, the explosion on 17 july 1944, became a symbol of what was wrong with american society. Jul 17, 2004 port chicago explosion still echoes 60 years later. The explosion knocked men off their feet and out of windows over a mile and a half away. Gonegaryt writes say chaps, this might be old hat, but theres a fab site for conspiracy theory aficionados at. The port chicago, california, ship explosion of 17 july 1944 jennings, h.
Discrimination in the armed forces is the topic of this book about the port chicago explosion of 1944, told in a fastpaced reportorial style with archival photos. In 1992, congress, led by representative george millerwhose district included the area of port chicagocreated a monument at the site of the explosion. My wifes mother was living in concord at the time of the explosions and she related that all the house windows were blown out but fortunately no family members were hurt. Work cited sections of recent books conveniently list resources we dont have. Most of the dead and injured were enlisted african american sailors. Conant, a critical figure in the development of a nuclear bomb, wrote a memorandum suggesting putting the mark ii on the shelf after a july 1944 test, a test never recorded in any public annals, but paralleling the date of the port chicago explosion.
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. In the town of port chicago, almost every home was damaged, but no one was killed. The port chicago disaster was a deadly munitions explosion that occurred on july 17, 1944, at the port chicago naval magazine in port chicago, california, united states. In the segregated military during world war ii, black sailors were responsible for. Poor procedures and lack of training led to the disaster. An overwhelming explosion of thousands of tons of naval munitions blew up an american city killing hundreds in july 1944. The port chicago explosion 1944 during world war ii, port chicago served as an ammunition loading facility for the us navy.
Consider purchasing both the print and audiobook versions. At port chicago naval magazine, 320 men were instantly killed when two ships being loaded with ammunition for the pacific theater troops blew up. The four kids were teens but had vivid memories of this event. The united states world war ii military campaign in the pacific was in full swing at the time. The name port chicago will forever carry with it the memory of the explosion that occurred on july 17 th, 1944. Jan 21, 2014 an astonishing civil rights story from newbery honor winner and national book award finalist steve sheinkin. Sep 12, 2007 port chicago was an allamerican town and naval facility. Disaster, mutiny, and the fight for civil rights ebook. Sailors and dock workers were pressured by time and their superiors and were also using unsafe. The friends of port chicago national memorial successfully advocated for establishment of the memorial, and remain the parks primary partner.
The workers were largely black, while the officers were all white. Munitions detonated while being loaded onto a cargo vessel bound for the pacific theater of operations, killing 320 sailors and civilians and injuring 390 others. With the help of many of the contra costa historical societies, local. Jul 28, 2019 an ammunition ship explodes while being loaded in port chicago, california, killing 332 people on this day in 1944. Navy who refused to return to loading ammunition after a disastrous explosion at port chicago, california on july 17, 1944 that destroyed the liberty ship ss e. Port chicago, ca, explosion naval history and heritage. Port chicago foundation document full national park service. The port chicago, california, ship explosion of 17 july 1944.
Personally, there was no atomic bomb detonation, and im surprised that this conspiracy theory still continues to float around though it has been historically debunked extensively. The united states world war ii military campaign in the pacific was in full. The port chicago mutiny involved african american enlisted men in the u. Despite these changes, the mutiny convictions remained.
Port chicago, ca, explosion navy history and heritage command. The explosion was felt within a 40mile radius, as far away as san francisco. At port chicago, a deadly 1944 explosion led to the. Aug 26, 2005 port chicago disaster did we blow up port chicago with a nuke. Littleknown disaster gets overdue, indepth treatment. Port chicago disaster did we blow up port chicago with a nuke. Did a nuclear blast devastate port chicago on july 17, 1944. Port chicago explosion still echoes 60 years later. Jul 11, 2016 whereas, in 2003, the national park service dedicated the port chicago naval magazine national memorial at the disaster site, which serves not only as a tribute to the 320 men who died in that world war ii explosion, but also as an acknowledgment of that event as the touchstone for desegregation in the military and the beginning of civil rights. Port chicago incident a 1944 work stoppage at mare island navy shipyard by survivors of the port chicago explosion after the africanamerican sailors stationed at the port chicago naval magazine who had survived the explosion of 17 july 1944 had retrieved the remains of the 320.
Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. Memorandum on port chicago disaster, preliminary data, 24 jul. Disaster, mutiny, and the fight for civil rights by steve sheinkin. The july 17, 1944 explosion there took 320 young lives and ultimately lead to the desegregation of the navy. Halifax explosion disasters of the century duration. An ammunition ship explodes while being loaded in port chicago, california, killing 332 people on this day in 1944. The armed forces were a mirror of american society at the time, reflecting the cooperation and dedication of a country. The disaster featured prominently in the 2011 novel blue skies tomorrow by sarah sundin. Jul 16, 2014 in the nearby town of port chicago, the explosion damaged buildings and injured residents. Includes pictures includes accounts about the incident written by witnesses and survivors includes online.
Port chicago was a base in northern california where the navy loaded ships with ammunition headed for the pacific theater. Port chicago was a town on the southern banks of suisun bay, in contra costa county, california. The port chicago disaster was a deadly munitions explosion that occurred on july 17, 1944. On july 17, 1944, smalls fears are realized when a massive explosion completely destroys port chicago, killing hundreds of men in the process. Port chicago was a place where no one locked their doors. Port chicago disaster, july 17, 1944 the nafi blog. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. The great wwii port chicago disaster a nuclear blast.
Jul 22, 2019 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. Disaster, mutiny, and the fight for civil rights study unit worksheets for teachers to print. It is best known as the site of a devastating explosion at its naval munitions depot during world war ii. Opinion excerpt, port chicago naval magazine explosion on 17 july 1944. In the nearby town of port chicago, the explosion damaged buildings and injured residents. Port chicago explosion still echoes 60 years later sfgate. However, before the navy colonized this area of central contra costa county, port chicago was known as seal bluff and was a quiet area where lumber ship companies came searching for western sales yards. Port chicago disaster july 17, 1944 during world war ii, one of the sources of ammunition for the pacific theater was the naval ammunition depot at port chicago, california. May 18, 2009 an overwhelming explosion of thousands of tons of naval munitions blew up an american city killing hundreds in july 1944. Guardian that would almost give you a heart attack, meeks recalled many decades later. A massive thank you to our super fans who have supported us on our patreon page. On july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring offduty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile. An astonishing civil rights story from newbery honor winner and national book award finalist steve sheinkin. Port chicago by dean mcleod arcadia publishing books.
A national book award finalista yalsa award for excellence in nonfiction finalista school library journal best book of the yearon july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing more than 300 sailors. An ammunition ship explodes in the port chicago disaster. All 320 of the men working on the ships and the pier had been killed instantly, and another 390 people in the surrounding area were injured, many of them maimed by shattered glass and debris. Most of the dead and injured were enlisted africanamerican. On july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the california. Port chicago was an allamerican town and naval facility. Navy base at port chicago, killing more than 300 sailors. Online documents concerning port chicago explosion parsons, william s.
Forged at the beginning of the 20th century on suisun bay in contra costa county, the navy town met its end during the vietnam war, when it was sacrificed to preserve national security. Jul 08, 2019 6 responses to port chicago the explosion rich boyd jul. On july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring offduty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile away. The explosion at port chicago accounted for fifteen percent of all africanamerican casualties of world war ii.
The primary issue with the port chicago incident being due to a nuclear device is that it would require us completely rewrite the currently known history of the manhattan project 1 to include the gadget not being the first nuclear device and that if one was created for port chicago that it predated the gadget by almost a full year as the trinity test was on july 16, 1945. Port chicago naval magazine national memorial was established in 1992 to mark the site of the port chicago explosion, the worst stateside or home front disaster in the united states during world war ii. Students interested in the port chicago disaster can read more about the events in these books. The newbery awardwinning and national book award finalist author of bomb presents an account of the 1944 civil. The port chicago 50 by steve sheinkin book read online scribd. Ebook the port chicago 50 as pdf download portable. It honors the memory of those who gave their lives and were injured in the explosion on 17 july 1944, recognizes those who served at the magazine, and commemorates the role of the facility during world war ii. Port chicago naval magazine national memorial is administered by the national park service and the united states navy. Jul 16, 2014 port chicago disaster exposed racism in military.
On july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing. Black sailors nuked by confederates in abomb test at port chicago black sailors. Oct 11, 2015 front page of the new york age detailing the port chicago explosion in 1944. Whereas, in 2003, the national park service dedicated the port chicago naval magazine national memorial at the disaster site, which serves not only as a tribute to the 320 men who died in that world war ii explosion, but also as an acknowledgment of that event as the touchstone for desegregation in the military and the beginning of civil rights. America was swept into world war ii on 7 december 1941.
Peter vogels website and book is devoted to a nuclear theory of the explosion. Mar 27, 2011 the port chicago mutiny involved african american enlisted men in the u. Steve sheinkin is the awardwinning author of several fascinating books on american history, including the notorious benedict arnold, which. Having worked in port chicago new part on homes moved from the explosion area old part, i found this books contents very interesting. The forgotten port chicago disaster abmc education. What caused the explosion that killed 320 men in 1944. Disaster, mutiny, and the fight for civil rights by steve sheinkin is at the top of many nonfiction awards lists for 2014. Such policies lead to a dangerous environment at port chicago, and joe small becomes convinced that a disaster is looming. Port chicago is located on an arm of san francisco bay about 30 miles northeast of oakland and san francisco. The port chicago 50 by steve sheinkin overdrive rakuten. An astonishing world war ii military story of civil rights from new york times bestselling author and newbery honor recipient steve sheinkin.