November 16, 2008: BadaBoom

[xoxoxoBruce]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.