Ship Explosion
One of the stories I recall was my father experience on the Port Chicago then located I believe in San Burno, San Francisco. He stated that as he was walking up on the gain way when the ship blew up. With some scrap metal logged in his back he took off running. A Marine yelled' Halt Sailor" his replay to him was" Halt Hell". Running through the streets and back alleys he notice that same Marine was still behind him. Being tired and out of breath he decided to give up. The Marine told him ' Look sailor, you go that way and I am going to go this way. You did not see me and I did not see you. My father said he agree to the terms. Thus, he would go about two weeks awol. He turned himself in when his money ran out. He also stated that he he had never seen that Marine again. Now the reason the ship exploded was because the Japanese had planted a bomb abord the ship
Years later I was watching Unsolved Mysteries with the Late Robert Stack. However according to unsolved mysteries the reason the ship blew up was due to improper training of the crew by the officers. Many sailors from Lackawanna lost their lives. In the eighties while at the V. A here in Buffalo My father introduce me to another friend of his from Lackawanna that had survive the Port Chicago Ship disaster. My father began to call out some names that were on the ship. The other fellow stated he did not want to talk about it. When the show had aired the actor Robert Stact put on the screen a toll free number where surviving sailors could call and share their story. We tried to get my father to call and you guest it,,... He did not want to talk about it. Later those that did shared received a Presidental Award and Parden from the then President Jimmy Carter.
Years later I was watching Unsolved Mysteries with the Late Robert Stack. However according to unsolved mysteries the reason the ship blew up was due to improper training of the crew by the officers. Many sailors from Lackawanna lost their lives. In the eighties while at the V. A here in Buffalo My father introduce me to another friend of his from Lackawanna that had survive the Port Chicago Ship disaster. My father began to call out some names that were on the ship. The other fellow stated he did not want to talk about it. When the show had aired the actor Robert Stact put on the screen a toll free number where surviving sailors could call and share their story. We tried to get my father to call and you guest it,,... He did not want to talk about it. Later those that did shared received a Presidental Award and Parden from the then President Jimmy Carter.
