WASHINGTON -- Yesterday evening, one of the few remaining survivors of a controversial and highly publicized domestic incident from World War II passed away. On July 17, 1944, 320 sailors - mostly black men who loaded munitions at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord, California, aboard ships bound for the Pacific theater - died in a cataclysmic explosion of unknown causes, the largest domestic loss of life during the war. Fifty black sailors, including Mr. Meeks, refused to resume loading operations until they received better training and safety measures were implemented, leading to the largest mutiny trial in U.S. history. All fifty were convicted and jailed.

Congressman Miller (D-CA), who represents Concord, has led the effort in Congress to secure recognition for the black sailors who served under segregationist conditions during World War II. Under his leadership, Congress created the Port Chicago National Monument at the site of the explosion in 1992, and led the successful effort to secure a presidential pardon from President Clinton in 1999 for Meeks, one of the few Port Chicago sailors still living at that time. The story of Port Chicago has been the subject of books, films, and numerous magazine and newspaper articles. Miller issued the following statement Friday morning upon learning that Mr. Meeks passed away.

“On behalf of the Congress of the United States, which created the Port Chicago National Historic Monument, I want to extend deepest condolences to Eleanor Meeks and her family on the passing of her husband, Freddie Meeks. By his service to our nation during World War II, and through the role he played in the tumultuous Port Chicago story, Freddie Meeks helped educate us not only about racism in the military during World War II, but also about how courage, perseverance and dignity ultimately are honored. Mr. Meeks and the other sailors who served at Port Chicago played a valuable role in defending America, and those who joined him in protesting unjust treatment helped lead our country down the path to greater racial equality. As we honored him with the granting of a presidential pardon in 1999, we salute his service to our nation as a sailor, a veteran, and a symbol of triumph over injustice.”

To read more about Port Chicago, go to: http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/ptchicmain.html.