November 16, 2008: BadaBoom

xoxoxoBruce · 11-16-2008, 12:18 AM

BadaBoom, Big BadaBoom.

Quote:

In 1944, on July 17 to be specific, munitions being loaded onto a ship in Port Chicago, California, (very close to San Francisco) detonated. No one knows what exactly caused the blast, but the damage was biblical. All in all, more than 5,000 tons of high explosives, plus whatever else was in the stores on the base and on any ships docked, was involved. The explosion was so massive it was felt as far away as Las Vegas (500 miles distant) and people were injured all over the Bay Area when windows were shattered by the immense pressure wave.
320 were killed immediately and almost 400 were seriously injured, but that’s not the real tragedy. Most of these men were African American and this single disaster accounted for almost 15% of African American casualties during that war.

Quote:

Still fearing for their safety, the remaining men, who had just spent three weeks pulling the bodies of their fellow sailors from the wreckage, refused to load any further munitions. The Army, in a characteristic show of support, considered this an act of mutiny and court-martialed 208 sailors, sending an additional 50 to jail for 8 to 15 years.

Refusing a direct order, especially in war time, is something the military frowns on.
It shakes the very foundation of their organization... authority.

spudcon · 11-16-2008, 12:46 AM

(snip)320 were killed immediately and almost 400 were seriously injured, but that’s not the real tragedy. Most of these men were African American and this single disaster accounted for almost 15% of African American casualties.(snip)
I imagine the families of those sailors that died weren't interested in that 15% figure. !00% of their husbands, fathers, and sons died. I'll also bet they didn't consider their ethnicity in their grief.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-16-2008, 01:36 AM

True, but in the back of their minds, they knew the people killed were there because of their color. Even though the alternative, had they been allowed, would have been combat duty which isn't exactly safer.
I agree, however, it's only a footnote to this terrible tragedy.

amykins · 11-16-2008, 03:00 AM

Whoa. That's definitely devastating for all involved. What a story... I think the next time SF area will look like that will be a reeeally devastating earthquake. (Any minute now...) And now I have The Fifth Element quotes running rampant through my head. Thanks Bruce!

bluecuracao · 11-16-2008, 03:43 AM

The aftermath was horrible too, but at the very least it paved the way for desegregation of the armed forces.

http://www.portchicagomemorial.org/

Stupid that it takes bad situations to make things right. But even to this day, we've still got a ways to go.

StereoMike · 11-16-2008, 05:06 PM

Halifax explosion from 1917. Wiped out a whole city (plus 18m tsunami after the explosion).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion
http://www.cbc.ca/halifaxexplosion/

Biggest man-made and non-nuke explosion.

mike

xoxoxoBruce · 11-16-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StereoMike

Biggest man-made and non-nuke explosion.

mike

Nope, it killed more people but was only 3,000 tons of boom, compared to 5,000 tons at Port Chicago.
It probably did more damage, and killed more people, because it was a crowded port city rather than a military facility, and in 1917 everything was made of wood. Bigger disaster but not the biggest boom.

busterb · 11-16-2008, 07:31 PM

When I worked at Exxon refinery at Benicia, CA I took a shortcut by there each day.
A Naval station there now. BTW. The refinery had old ammo bunkers alll over it.

Gravdigr · 11-16-2008, 08:39 PM

Funny, would there be that much concern for the black folk if they hadn't been blown to 'Kingdom Come'?

Hey!? Where's that guy that always climbs up my ass whenever I use the word 'black'? Or 'pimp'?

Stonan · 11-17-2008, 10:33 PM

I would think that the 1917 blast did more damage because it was in deeper water. The rebounding shock wave would be spread out more that if it was in shallow water (such as being dockside)

xoxoxoBruce · 11-17-2008, 10:59 PM

It was dockside. After the french abandoned ship, it drifted into the dock, setting it ablaze. The firefighters had just arrived to put out the dock fire, when the ship blew up.

WillieO · 11-18-2008, 09:33 PM

So the snively French are to blame? I Knew it!

TheMercenary · 11-18-2008, 09:57 PM

I feel a good natural disaster coming on. Who is next? seriously.

ZenGum · 11-18-2008, 11:51 PM

Yeah, it's been a while.

This could be a thread, like the celebrity death thread. All tip where, what kind of disaster, and death toll.

Out of the blue, I'm going to say, earthquake, South America under the Andes, mmmm Peru, 6,000 dead.

spudcon · 11-19-2008, 12:19 AM

I say Iran, at one of their nuke arsenals, before January 20th.

11-16-2008, 12:46 AM	#2
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	(snip)320 were killed immediately and almost 400 were seriously injured, but that’s not the real tragedy. Most of these men were African American and this single disaster accounted for almost 15% of African American casualties.(snip) I imagine the families of those sailors that died weren't interested in that 15% figure. !00% of their husbands, fathers, and sons died. I'll also bet they didn't consider their ethnicity in their grief. __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

11-16-2008, 01:36 AM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	True, but in the back of their minds, they knew the people killed were there because of their color. Even though the alternative, had they been allowed, would have been combat duty which isn't exactly safer. I agree, however, it's only a footnote to this terrible tragedy. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-16-2008, 07:31 PM	#8
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	When I worked at Exxon refinery at Benicia, CA I took a shortcut by there each day. A Naval station there now. BTW. The refinery had old ammo bunkers alll over it. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch. Last edited by busterb; 11-16-2008 at 07:37 PM. Reason: spelling

11-16-2008, 08:39 PM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Funny, would there be that much concern for the black folk if they hadn't been blown to 'Kingdom Come'? Hey!? Where's that guy that always climbs up my ass whenever I use the word 'black'? Or 'pimp'? __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

11-17-2008, 10:33 PM	#10
Stonan Do-er of Deeds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada, Earth, Universe #42 Posts: 41	I would think that the 1917 blast did more damage because it was in deeper water. The rebounding shock wave would be spread out more that if it was in shallow water (such as being dockside) __________________ Jesus got it wrong by one letter: The Geek shall inherit the earth...

11-16-2008, 03:00 AM	#4
amykins Alphabetarian Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 12	Whoa. That's definitely devastating for all involved. What a story... I think the next time SF area will look like that will be a reeeally devastating earthquake. (Any minute now...) And now I have The Fifth Element quotes running rampant through my head. Thanks Bruce!

11-16-2008, 03:43 AM	#5
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	The aftermath was horrible too, but at the very least it paved the way for desegregation of the armed forces. http://www.portchicagomemorial.org/ Stupid that it takes bad situations to make things right. But even to this day, we've still got a ways to go.

11-16-2008, 05:06 PM	#6
StereoMike Fellow-Commoner Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10	Halifax explosion from 1917. Wiped out a whole city (plus 18m tsunami after the explosion). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion http://www.cbc.ca/halifaxexplosion/ Biggest man-made and non-nuke explosion. mike

11-17-2008, 10:59 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	It was dockside. After the french abandoned ship, it drifted into the dock, setting it ablaze. The firefighters had just arrived to put out the dock fire, when the ship blew up. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-18-2008, 09:33 PM	#12
WillieO perfesionul spel cheker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 70	So the snively French are to blame? I Knew it!

11-18-2008, 09:57 PM	#13
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	I feel a good natural disaster coming on. Who is next? seriously. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

11-18-2008, 11:51 PM	#14
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Yeah, it's been a while. This could be a thread, like the celebrity death thread. All tip where, what kind of disaster, and death toll. Out of the blue, I'm going to say, earthquake, South America under the Andes, mmmm Peru, 6,000 dead. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

11-19-2008, 12:19 AM	#15
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	I say Iran, at one of their nuke arsenals, before January 20th. __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

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