Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is a memorial recognizing the critical role played by Port Chicago in World War II in serving as the main facility for the Pacific Theater of Operations. The memorial is located at the Concord Naval Weapons Station near Concord, California in the United States. In 1994 the memorial was dedicated to the lives lost in the Port Chicago disaster that occurred at the naval magazine, which resulted in t... more

The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is a memorial recognizing the critical role played by Port Chicago in World War II in serving as the main facility for the Pacific Theater of Operations. The memorial is located at the Concord Naval Weapons Station near Concord, California in the United States. In 1994 the memorial was dedicated to the lives lost in the Port Chicago disaster that occurred at the naval magazine, which resulted in the largest domestic loss of life during World War II. The disaster occurred on July 17, 1944 when 320 sailors and civilians were instantly killed when the ships they were loading with ammunition and bombs exploded. The majority of the deaths were African American sailors working for the segregated military. The explosion and its aftermath led to the largest Naval mutiny trial and was one of the catalysts for the United States Navy to desegregate following the war. The national memorial, administered by the National Park Service, was authorized... less