 This is days after the Navy officially exonerated nearly two-and-sixty black sailors who were unjustly punished for refusing to work at the port when no safety changes were made. Munitions being loaded onto a cargo ship detonated, setting off a domino effect of explosions and fires. Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro. The Port Chicago stories serve as a permanent reminder of the power of collective action, the importance of historical truth, and the enduring promise of a more just America.