The Port Chicago Mutiny: The Story of the Largest Mass Mutiny Trial in U.S. Naval History

by Robert L. Allen

Book Overview

During World War II, Port Chicago was a segregated naval munitions base on the outer shores of San Francisco Bay. Black seamen were required to load ammunition onto ships bound for the South Pacific under the watch of their white officers--an incredibly dangerous and physically challenging task. On July 17, 1944, an explosion rocked the base, killing 320 men--202 of whom were black ammunition loaders. In the ensuing weeks, white officers were given...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1597140287
• ISBN13: 9781597140287
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Heyday Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

The Port Chicago Mutiny

The recounting of this horrific event while not a new publication, this is an excellent retelling of this disaster and its resulting conclusions. The author is not completely unbiased; however he attenpts to justify his reasoning and conclusions most successfully. I recall the time of the explosion in '44 as I was living in San Francisco at the time and the event is still very vivid in my mind. A must for anyone with knowledge of or interest in this event.

The Port Chicago Mutiny

This excellent book details the aftermath of the Port Chicago ammunition ship explosions during WW2, with particular emphasis on the "mutiny" of Black sailors detailed to handle the loading of ammunition ships. Those familiar with Port Chicago will find the book brings back details of the operations there, which had changed substantially in the years leading up to the Vietnam Era, and will provide interesting insights to the way Black sailors were treated. Their tragic end and the sacrifices of those who organized and participated in their work-stoppage made ammunition handling safer for those who came after them, and as an ammunition ship sailor once assigned to Port Chicago, I'm included. A movie was made which closely follows this book's story.

Dry paper catches fire easy

No don't burn this book-buy it and read it and become aware ofone of yet another sickening US military action. This time the framingof black sailors who wouldn't work the day after hundred of their buddies were blown to smitherines because of unsafe loading of a munitions ship.The US Navy behavior was despicable. It's a little dry, to remain aloof. But dry paper catches fire easy.