All language subtitles for JAG S07E20 Port Chicago

50 miles north of Oakland, the Naval
Munitions Base, Port Chicago, is abuzz

activity.

Working around the clock, sailors load
the bombs and ammunition our fighting

need.

It's tough going, but these sailors know
they're doing their part to beat back

the Japanese in the Pacific.

Port Chicago, gateway to victory.

Whoa.

Our back is killing me.

Loading those bombs?

Be grateful it's just your back.

Are you sure you told them girls and a
friend 9 o 'clock? How many times I

tell you?

Hey, how many times you figure we loaded
on our shift today?

About 250.

Including that 500 -pounder Johnson
dropped on the deck.

They got us working too fast.

Yeah, but if we fill the lieutenant's
tonnage quota, we get Saturday liberty.

Oh, my

God.

That was our ship.

Admiral, may I have a minute?

Sure. Sir, with Lieutenant Roberts
detached, I imagine you'll be spreading

workload around. I was hoping for my
share of big cases.

No small cases, only small lawyers,
Lieutenant.

Yes, sir. Just saying, please keep me in
mind.

You're often on my mind, Lieutenant.
Yes, sir. Sir, one more thing.

In Lieutenant Roberts' absence, I'd like
to request that I move into his office.

I'll think about it. Yes, sir. Thank
you, sir.

Admiral, you have a visitor.

Thank you, Connor.

Chaplain Turner.

Admiral, I hope you don't mind my
arresting these old bones. They've been

hibernating all winter.

Not at all.

Good to see you. What do I owe this
pleasure?

Well, I got a call this morning from an
old friend who may need some legal

advice.

You're familiar with the World War II
disaster at Port Chicago?

As a matter of fact, I am.

1944, an explosion at a Navy base near
Oakland killed 320 men. Yes, most of the

seamen African -Americans.

Well, afterwards, some of the sailors
refused to go back to work, said it was

unsafe. Navy convicted 50 of mutiny.
Well, one of the men, a sailor that I

at Great Lakes back in 48, Aubrey
McBride, has petitioned for a new day in

court. Just got word of it this morning.

Enter.

Sir, Sir, Tyner stepped away.

Dad. Sturgis came by your office looking
for you.

You're out. I was hoping you'd join us.
Have a seat, Commander.

Your father and I were just discussing
Port Chicago.

One of the convicted men, an old sailor
friend of your father, requested a new

court -martial.

I thought the Port Chicago 50 were all
discharged from the Navy.

Albert McBride petitioned to stay in.

Did his 30 years, made chief, and
retired with benefits.

I'll be honest, A .J.

I'm not sure the new court -martial is a
good idea.

Chief McBride has a tendency to push too
hard sometimes.

You want somebody to talk to him? I'd
appreciate it. I just want to make sure

doesn't shoot himself in the foot.

I'll see to it.

Thank you, Admiral.

We still on for dinner Sunday?

If you're not cooking... We'll go to the
old club.

I'll be in touch, A .J.

Chief McBride retires at full benefits.
Why is he going after the Navy now, sir?

Well, that's what you're going to find
out.

It's my dad's idea, sir? It's my idea.

Commander Reb and Colonel McKenzie busy,
sir?

This is a sensitive matter.

The Navy would like to have it settled,
and I need a level head.

Yes, sir.

That'll be all.

Let me help you with that, man.

Thank you, Turner.

Is this your lunch, Lieutenant?

No, it's a chicken, three shrimp stir
-fry, two pounds of raw chuck, and a

roast. Interested?

I've had a complete breakfast, ma 'am.

Would you stow these in the freezer for
me?

No problem, Lieutenant.

Thank you.

Morning, sir.

My refrigerator's broken again, sir.

Oh, call your landlord.

Oh, he's UA, and the repairman can't
come for three days.

Bud used to take care of this stuff for
me. You know, I'm not doing anything

tonight. I'll pop by.

That'd be great, sir. Have you ever
fixed a refrigerator before?

How hard can it be?

It's a closed system. The compressors
are sealed. When did you become an

on refrigerators? I'm not. I've just
learned to steer clear of home repairs

my freezer's on the blink.

When was the last time you fixed
anything?

Oh, my vet's working pretty good.

It'll be all right. I wish I could
believe that, sir.

It's not about the refrigerator, but
about everything.

My apartment's too small. It's noisy.
The traffic is terrible. If A .J. gets

sick, I'm an hour away.

It's just going to take some getting
used to.

Bud being gone.

If you need anything, just ask, all
right?

Help me buy a new house, sir?

Sir Jackson, you or your father?

I'm here on official business, sir.

Your dad tells me you're good,
Commander.

He's biased, Chief.

Jag lawyer and a submariner.

The Navy sure has changed a lot, sir.

Yes, it has, which is actually the
reason I'm here.

The Navy wants me to keep my trap shut?

I'm just here to listen, Chief. But I do
have to ask what goods you think can

come from reopening this case.

Are you sure you've chaplained Turner's
son, Commander?

I'm not going to lie to you, Chief. The
Navy would like to see if this matter

can be resolved without going to court
-martial.

My buddy Randall Winston and I enlisted
in the Navy at 16 after Pearl Harbor.

We read some newspaper stories about
Dory Miller, a black mess attendant who

manned a gun and shot down a bunch of
Japanese planes.

When we got our orders to Port Chicago,
Randall said, see, all they figure a

black man can do is guard the White Sox
dugout.

And I said, no, Randall.

We're going to Port Chicago, California.

They're sending us to fight in the
Pacific.

Turns out Randolph was right.

You boys here with 6th Division loaded
yesterday?

160 tons.

You boys load 165 by 1500?

You get liberty. If not, you don't.

While I was at Port Chicago, I learned
Dory Miller was lost at sea. I saw a

newsreel of Jesse Owens running against
a horse. And I knew they weren't going

to let us fight. I appreciate your aim.
You can't appreciate a damn thing,

Commander. You're so accepted by the
system, you've become it.

A mouthpiece for the Secretary of the
Navy. Excuse me, but I speak for all of

the Navy and my country.

And I'm not sure dredging up this
divisive incident from the past serves

interest, especially now when we should
all be pulling together.

Well,

you got some vinegar after all.

Could have used you in 44.

Those munitions ships were a powder keg.

To go back to work under the same
conditions was suicide.

Is everything okay, sir?

Yeah. Yeah, it's coming pretty good.

Are you done, sir?

It just needs a little fine -tuning.

Do you have any duct tape? I don't know.
Let me ask Bud. Bud, where is the duct

tape?

It's in a shoebox in the closet.

He says we have some in the closet.

Oh.

Why we need a bigger place?

Plus, Bud and I are thinking about
having another child.

Really?

That's great, Harriet.

Difficult, though, with Bud gone for six
months at a time.

Yeah, he may only go so far.

I was just thinking again about buying a
house, Bud.

Maybe I could start looking.

Good morning, Lieutenant.

Good morning.

I just don't think this is the time,
Harriet. There are too many things up in

the air.

We'll talk more about it later.

Don't work too hard, sweetie.

Let your legal man do his share.

Anything I can do for you, sir?

No, thank you, sweetie.

Petty officer.

Thank you.

Don't worry, sweetie.

My legal man is great.

Gotta go.

Love to you and AJ.

Email home, sir?

Yeah.

How are things?

What's doing great, sir?

Sir, do you ever think about buying a
house?

Not unless I get married.

Unless or until, sir.

How's the fridge doing, sir?

Duct tape didn't work.

You'll think of something, sir.

Yeah.

So, come in.

Secnav wants to know why an old man's
causing so much trouble after all these

years. He's not alone.

At my age, sir, alone gets to be a way
of life.

More so every day.

Randolph Winston and I were there that
night.

We saw the fireball.

Heard the screams.

He's one of the 50 convicted of mutiny
that recognized the name.

He told me one day he was going to set
the record straight.

And I told him I'd have his back when he
did.

You want to know why I'm doing this,
Commander?

I've got a promise to keep.

He really wants to go to court, Marshal.

Yes, he does, sir.

And I'd like to represent him.

He asked you?

I volunteered, sir.

He's waiving his rights. Statute of
limitations, double jeopardy.

What part of the Navy wants to settle
this, didn't you understand?

I believe the man has a case, sir.

Based on one conversation?

Based on history, sir.

I did ask for a level head here.

Well, we're not looking at a settlement,
and this has to go to court -martial.

Can I count on you?

Yes, sir.

Harriet.

I'm just on break, sir.

Did you hear from the appliance store
yet?

Oh, I picked up a part on the way in.

Life would be a whole lot easier if I
lived closer to work.

Nice place.

It's a little pricey. What's a little
pricey? Take a look.

Wow, you and Bud thinking about
daydreaming, ma 'am?

Nice dream.

Vincent.

Sir, thank you very much for your help.

Yeah, sure.

You and Bud planning on buying a house?

Not just yet. I'd hate to worry about
mortgage payments with my husband, F .C.

Lieutenant Singer, walk with me, please.
Yes, sir.

I have an assignment for you.

Thank you, sir.

I'd like for you to prosecute the
McBride case.

Isn't he the old man being court
-martialed, sir?

Do you have an issue with prosecuting an
old man, Lieutenant?

No, sir.

No issue.

Look, I realize this may not be the most
appealing case. I have no problem, sir.

The man defied an order and engaged in a
mutinous act, no matter what the

justification.

And I'm going to nail his butt to the
yardarm.

Oh, that'll be all.

Sir, about Robert's office.

Right. I'll have Lieutenant Sims remove
his personal effects. The office is

yours for now, Lieutenant.

Thank you, sir.

Look here, Chief, I just want to go over
some of these facts with you. No

problem, Commander.

You know your dad called me. Said to
make sure you gave me a good rate.

I promise I'm worth every penny.

How did you and my dad meet, anyway?

Oh, the chaplain you see, but that's
been a mess with great legs.

Negro officers weren't allowed in the
old club back then, Commander.

I knew that.

I just forget.

My dad doesn't talk much about those
things.

I'm sure there are lots of things he
didn't talk much about.

About this mutiny charge.

I never could understand that,
Commander.

We just said we wasn't going back to
work. That's our defense, Chief.

This mutiny charge doesn't hold up. You
never had the required intent to usurp

or override lawful military authority.

Do you know what Thurgood Marshall said,
Commander?

Sir? He said, I can't understand why
whenever more than one Negro disobeys an

order, It's mutiny. He was right. I'll
discharge you with disobeying orders.

Hey, whose side are you on?

You sure you wouldn't rather do this at
your house?

Sold my house, Commander.

Live in an apartment upstairs now.

I've had some financial setbacks.

There's more company here anyway.

Great news, sir.

What's that, Lieutenant?

I just located a witness.

An officer who was at Port Chicago who
can testify that McBride led the

conspiracy to refuse orders.

Well, congratulations.

The old man's toast, sir.

Excuse me, Lieutenant.

Colonel, one minute, please.

Problem, sir?

Singer.

Talking about the McBride case, Ivo.

Help me out here, Colonel. I think she's
gone off the deep end.

Do you want me to take over?

I want you to sit second chair.

I'd prefer the electric chair, sir. I
realize that, Colonel, but I need

to keep an eye on her.

Sir, if I may, I never thought
Lieutenant Singer was the right person

job. This case requires a light touch.

You may be right, Colonel, and that's
why I need you.

Understood, sir.

And as you can see, spacious, but...
cozy and with these feelings very light.

Cookie Commander?

No, thank you. Excuse me.

Rap. Let me show you the porch.

Uh -huh.

Your husband's quite a hunk.

Yes, he is.

So he's not my husband.

Really? You seem like the perfect
couple.

You think so?

My husband's overseas and Commander
Rap's just helping me while he's away.

How do you like the house?

Very nice.

Oh.

Harriet,

this is none of my business.

No, sir. I asked for your help.

Can you and Bud really afford this
place?

I think we can swing it, sir.

Bud doesn't mind going out on a limb.

There are some things that we still need
to talk about.

Well, any decisions?

I think we're interested.

Great.

Listen, I'm not one to pressure, but
I've gotten calls from other realtors

have clients ready to make an offer.

I don't want you to miss an opportunity
here.

What do we need to do?

Chief, thank you for coming in today.

As you know, the second half has taken a
keen interest in this case.

He has authorized this office to make
you an offer he hopes will bring this

matter to a resolution.

Admiral, you convene this tea party.

Lieutenant Singer?

Chief McBride, SECNAV's prepared to
issue a public apology to you and the 49

other men who were convicted of mutiny.
It will acknowledge that racial

prejudice influenced work assignments at
the base and that conditions were

hazardous and discriminatory.

Well, I don't hear anything about
overturning convictions, ma 'am. No, but

SECNAV has entered into discussions with
the White House regarding a blanket

presidential pardon for all 50 men.

Secnav's also informed us that he's
submitting proposed legislation for an

of Congress granting exoneration.

I'm sorry, but I can't accept.

No apologies, no pardons, and no deals.

Chief McBride, a pardon and an act of
Congress would mean full recognition of

this injustice.

My buddy Randall Winston used to say,
after what's happened...

Pardons don't cut it.

Randolph deserved a military funeral.

He just got put in a hole in the ground.

And I want my day in court.

Well then, Chief, I think it's my
responsibility to inform you that I

prefer additional charges of
insubordination and disobeying orders.

We haven't discussed recommending any
additional charges. I'm lead counsel.

leading this discussion, Colonel.

Sir, the original charge was mutiny.

New trial, new charges.

Admiral, surely the lieutenant doesn't
intend to widen the scope of these

proceedings?

As lead counsel, she is within her
rights, and I will not interfere.

Thank you, sir.

Sir, I'd like to work with my client.

That's an excellent idea.

Colonel, lieutenant.

What are you doing, lieutenant?

My job, ma 'am.

You endorse this, Admiral?

I don't engage in undue command
influence, Colonel.

What did I do wrong, ma 'am? Our job is
to uphold the original conviction, not

freelance new charges. I am not
interested in some musty mutiny charge,

This man refused an order.

Race may have played a role in his
conviction 60 years ago, but I am not

to let it play a role again.

I plan to walk into a colorblind court
and present the facts as they were in

1944.

Orders were given.

and orders were disobeyed. Be very
careful, Lieutenant. You're playing with

fire. No, sir. With all due respect, I'm
playing to win.

I thought you were liking our chances,
Commander Turner.

Chief, I was confident we could overturn
the mutiny convictions, but with these

new charges, it's 50 -50 at best.

Not very good odds, Commander.

And even worse when you consider if we
lose, you might be punitively discharged

and lose your veterans' benefits.

Your pension, health, everything.

You've told me already your financial
situation has looked better.

58 years ago, the Navy wouldn't let me
fight.

I'll be damned if they're going to buy
me off now.

There's a simple solution here,
Commander.

You've got to win.

Captain South.

He's classed at Annapolis on World War
II naval history. Is that right?

That is correct.

And you're familiar with the munitions
explosion at Port Chicago in 1944?

I've worked extensively on the legal
history here at the Naval Historical

in Washington.

Can you tell us what happened, sir?

No, and no one can.

Any evidence was obliterated by the
blast.

What about the court of inquiry
findings?

The most likely contributing factor...

was rough handling of the ammunition by
the seamen. And the rumors of unsafe

conditions? Remain just that, verbal
accounts.

But there is no definitive proof.

Do you believe that the sailors who
refused to return to work were

orders, Captain?

Yes, I do. And do you believe that based
on evidence that this was a case of

mutiny?

I think it meets the standard.

Thank you, sir.

Captain, the accused didn't try to take
over a ship or seize power, yet you

consider this mutiny?

Well, there was evidence of a conspiracy
at the time.

Marine guards observed a meeting at the
temporary brig where the men were held.

They observed?

I see. You also refer to verbal accounts
of unsafe conditions, but no concrete

proof.

Are you aware that the port director
delivered a warning to the Navy months

before the incident?

Conditions are bad up there. If you're
not careful, something's going to happen

and you'll be held responsible for it.
That is in the court record.

It's one man's opinion, Commander.

Well, isn't it true that the majority of
the mutineers, including Mr. McBride,

were willing to return as soon as safety
concerns were addressed?

That is what they said.

By strict definition, sir, is that
refusal to obey an order.

Not when you put it like that.

No.

Thank you, Captain.

Hey, I haven't seen you with this much
head of steam since the Jagathon.

Don't ask.

Same singer, not going well?

I can't stand it, Harm.

Take it easy. I'm trying, but it's hard
to sit and watch while Singer presides

over a train wreck in the courtroom.

Sir, about that house that we saw the
other day?

Yeah? I think I've figured out a way we
can swing it.

Really?

I've asked my dad for a loan.

And Bud's okay with that?

He will be okay with it, sir, when he
sees how perfect the house is.

Oh, he'll just forget all about the male
ego thing and want to make it on his

own, look after his family?

I'll make him forget about it, sir.

Bad idea.

I know, sir.

But I also know that I really want to
try and buy this house, and I need

who knows the law, who knows what he's
doing.

Bud gave me general power of attorney.

That doesn't feel right, Harriet.

What if I make a terrible mistake, sir?

How will you feel about it then?

Wow. Have you been hanging out with
Lieutenant Singer?

No, sir.

Sir, it's just because I really, really
want this.

All right, Harriet.

I'm going to help you, but on one
condition.

That you tell Bud.

Yes, sir.

I promise, sir.

Thank you, sir.

All right.

So how's your book coming?

I start out writing the memoirs of a
Navy chaplain, find myself penning a

history of the service.

Where's that girlfriend of yours?

She's on the campaign trail, and we're
just friends, Dad.

Don't wait too long, son.

Thanks for showing up in court to
support Chief McBride.

He's not the only one I was supporting.

The chief told me how you two met.

I'd forgotten you were excluded from the
Oak Club even after the war.

You and I have never really talked about
back then, Dad.

That's because it was back then.

What else don't I know?

Times were different.

We had to swallow our pride.

In 48, they sent me to Great Lakes.

First day, instead of putting me in the
chaplain's office, they put me in the

steward's barracks.

Negro chaplains are for Negro sailors,
an officer told me.

Great Lakes is where you met Mom,
though, huh?

Yeah, she said, if I marry you, tell me
I won't be boxing up care packages to

send to the Indian Ocean.

I told her black sailors don't go to
sea.

Next thing you know, you're on a ship in
the mid.

When I got back, my first assignment was
Pendleton.

I remember a Marine colonel wrote in my
fit rep, he's a remarkable preacher.

What's more, he's a Negro.

So hard to hear.

Your generation's been through the
things my generation's only read about,

Things have changed, Sturgis.

You've got a tough case.

A man defied orders.

Looking at the facts colorblind and out
of that context, could be that all the

court -martial sees is a guilty man.

Mr. Platt, you oversaw the loading of
ammunitions at Port Chicago?

Yes, I was a lieutenant in the 4th
Division, Seaman McBride's unit.

What happened on the day of August 9th,
1944?

Well, that was about three weeks after
the explosion.

We were reassigned to loading ammo at
Mirror Island. I marched the men down to

the water.

Was Seaman McBride there?

Yes, McBride was calling Cadence. We
came to the juncture in the road.

On the right was the parade ground. On
the left was the ferry which was waiting

to take us to the ammunition loading
pier.

What happened then?

Forward march!

Left! Left!

Left! Right!

Left! Left!

Left! Left! Right!

Left! Call them left!

I said call them left!

Are you men hard of hearing? I said
forward march!

Column left.

Seaman McBride, front and center.

Yes, sir.

You got a problem, Seaman?

I'm not loading ammunition, sir.

You can't tell me why. I'm afraid, sir.
It's not safe.

McBride's not going. I'm not going
either, sir.

I'm afraid too, Lieutenant.

Were you afraid, Mr. Platt?

A lot of officers and friends died.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't.

Yet you chose to go back.

Well, that is, we had a job to do. There
was a war going on, and men were dying

on islands all over the Pacific,
thousands of them.

Did you consider that the conditions
loading munitions were unsafe?

Well, when you're talking about
explosives, there's a risk.

But? There were many more hazardous
assignments than the Navy in 1944.

Thank you, Mr. Pipe.

Mr. Platt, on what basis did you
calculate your risk assessment?

Assurances by my superiors.

Who told you there were no fuses in
those bombs?

That's right.

That wasn't true of all ordnance?

Well, there were exceptions.

Incendiary bombs, some mines.

Generally, they received special
handling.

Generally? The pace was so frenetic, it
was hard to control everything.

Why a frenetic pace with explosives,
sir?

We were trying to load those ships as
fast as possible.

Were you aware that there was betting
among the officers to see whose men

load the most tons in the shortest time?

Objection, Relevant.

I'm getting there, Your Honor. I'll
allow it.

There was betting.

That's true.

It was in the spirit of competition.

Weren't you concerned that this
competition might sacrifice safety for

sir? It didn't occur to me at the time.

Isn't it true that a Coast Guard detail
was withdrawn from the port due to what

they deemed unsafe conditions?

Yes, that happened.

We know that the seamen were accused of
rough handling after the blast. Were the

men given any new training or
instruction?

Not that I know of, no.

Were any changes implemented after the
explosion, Mr. Platt?

The men were issued gloves.

Thank you, Mr. Platt.

Redirect, Your Honor. Go ahead,
Lieutenant.

If competition resulted in getting
munitions to our fighting men faster,

wouldn't you say competition was a
healthy thing?

Healthy for the war effort, yes.

But in retrospect, it wasn't healthy for
the 320 men, both black and white,

who died at Port Chicago.

Good lesson this morning, Lieutenant.

Never ask a question unless you know the
answer. I knew the answer, ma 'am. I

just didn't expect our witness to turn
into such a wimp.

Lieutenant, request you sent to the
Naval Historic Center.

You got something, ma 'am.

What is it, Lieutenant?

Just drew a new card, ma 'am.

Mr. Gant, you were a non -commissioned
officer at Port Chicago?

Assigned to the 4th Division.

Did you have any dealings with Seaman
McBride?

A month before the blast, I received a
petition signed by him and several of

other men.

I forwarded it to the base CO.

Your Honor, this is a copy of that
petition the Naval Historical Center

a search yesterday.

Mr. Gantz, please read the highlighted
portions for us.

The undersigned do hereby protest
conditions at Port Chicago.

We asked the Navy to review unfair labor
practices and the unjust treatment of

Negro seamen.

To quote Mr. Roosevelt, we the Negro
sailors of Port Chicago are waiting for

new deal.

Thank you.

Was this the only time that Seaman
McBride expressed his dissatisfaction to

He griped to me after the blast.

I was guarding him and the other men in
the brig.

You may be on that side, boy, but we're
all on the same side. How do you figure

that, Seaman?

The Navy's racist.

They look at you and me as mules for
hauling. The world's not perfect,

but it would be a lot worse if the
Germans or Japanese won this war.

Hitler and Tosho never called me boy.

Those are treasonous words, Seaman. Just
words.

I'll tell you this much.

No matter what the Navy threatens us
with, we're not going back.

And that's mutiny.

Mr. Gant, why did you come here to
testify after all these years?

I didn't agree with what McBride and the
others did.

And why was that?

I didn't like segregation any more than
them.

But we were at war.

My country, right or wrong?

Thank you, Mr. Gant.

Your Honor, the government rests.

Your witness, Commander.

I have no questions, Your Honor.

Chicago, where the worst stateside
accident of the present war wreaked

destruction.

In the bay is the record to the munition
ships that blew up.

Nothing left save twisted steel.

The pier is a scene of ruin caused by
the awesome blast that broke windows 50

miles away.

Here, a steel fragment of one ship was
hurled... Watch the movies at the

huh?

You know that an Army Air Corps plane
flying over the blast at the time

witnessed white hot chunks of metal the
size of a garage flying by them? They

were at 9 ,000 feet.

It's all the history, Buff, huh,
Sturgis?

You're in a good mood.

I'm buying a house.

What? I'll tell you later. It's a long
story.

How's the case going? Prosecution's last
witness just branded my client a

militant traitor to his country.

Other than that, I'm doing great.

You want to discuss it?

My father warned me. He removed the
context. He got a man guilty of

orders.

I might even lose on mutiny. Singers
play the smart, sticking to the facts.

can't let singers choose the field of
play, Sturgis.

I let my heart lead my head this time,
man.

I should have told McBride to just take
the second half's offer. You know,

emotions aren't always such a bad thing.
Sometimes you should listen to them.

Watch your heart telling you.

That an old man who wanted to serve his
country got a raw deal.

Injustice. That's right.

Why?

Racism. There's your argument.

Racism. You need to make Singer deal
with it.

It's not a legal argument.

Make it a legal argument.

How? Singer brought in an historian.

You need to bring in someone who can
paint a picture of how life was for the

black man in 1944.

Now you must know someone who can do
that.

Chaplain Turner.

You entered the Navy in 1944?

After I got out of the seminary.

What was the situation for African
Americans in the Navy?

It was separate and unequal.

At that time, there were 150 ,000 black
sailors, all trained, ready to

fight.

But aside from a few rare exceptions,
the Navy wouldn't let them.

You knew the accused when he was in the
Navy, is that right?

Yes, we met in 48.

Seaman McBride had returned to Great
Lakes to go to gunnery school.

How did you find the seaman?

Headstrong, but a good young man.

Given the context of the times, would
you consider the chief's refusal to go

back to loading munitions at Fort
Chicago justified?

The Navy's struggle with civil rights
has mirrored that of our country.

The Navy took a lead in desegregation
after the war.

because of protest by men like Aubrey
McBride.

The chief was only asking to be treated
like everyone else, no more, no less.

Yes, I think he was justified in asking
for the same opportunity to serve and,

if necessary, die for his country.

Thank you, Chaplain Turner.

Lieutenant.

Your Honor, I have no more... One
question, Your Honor.

Go ahead, Colonel.

Chaplain, if you had been there that day
at Port Chicago as a superior officer,

what would you have told Seaman McBride
to do?

I'd have told him to go back to work.

Why, sir?

Because it was an order.

Thank you, Chaplain Turner.

Everything seems in order, Harriet. It's
pretty straightforward.

Maybe to you, sir. To me, it's Greek.

I can't thank you enough.

Finally get that fridge fixed?

I'm working on it.

I need to ask you both a question.

If you murder co -counsel in the
courtroom, can you cop an insanity plea?

Absolutely. I thought so.

You and Bud bought that house?

Set to close in 30 days, ma 'am. Bud
must be so psyched. What did he say?

He does know.

Doesn't he?

Harriet.

I may have been a little unspecific
about buying a house, and you helped.

were you thinking?

That his approval went with his power of
attorney.

I'm so sorry, sir. I should have told
him.

I was going to... Sir, if you don't want
to continue giving me legal advice...

I have advice for you, Harriet. It's
just not legal.

What are you doing with my stuff?

Getting it out of my office.

Your office?

The Admiral gave it to me. Didn't he
tell you?

No. I'm sure he'll get around to it. In
the meantime, what do you want me to do

with this junk?

Chief, when you volunteered for the
Navy, what were your expectations?

The recruiter said white boys are dying
in the Pacific.

They're going to let you colored boys
fight.

I didn't like the idea of anybody dying,
but I wanted to fight.

And when you got to Port Chicago?

I thought, I'm not going to get killed
in the Pacific.

I'm going to get blown up in California.

You witnessed the explosion, Chief?

And I was there the next day.

We were searching for bodies.

It was awful, just parts,
unrecognizable, white or black.

And looking at that, you realize we're
all the same.

Why didn't you go back to work?

It wasn't safe, sir.

Why? We were moving too fast.

Men were learning on the job.

I was a winch operator, hoisting bombs
onto the ships.

One day a sailor on deck shouted up to
me that there was something wrong with

the rig.

Was there a problem, Chief?

The officer on duty said the rig looked
okay to him, but... Come

on! We're 30 tons behind, Stephen! Keep
it moving!

Let's go!

Look out! It's coming down!

Cool it!

Calm down!

It's not hot!

God, don't you know anything?

Well, that's just it.

We didn't know anything.

The officers told us the bombs weren't
dangerous.

But a lot of them took off running with
the rest of us.

And the brig?

You said you thought the Navy was
racist.

Why? Look at the hand the Navy dealt us,
Commander.

They gave us the menial jobs, the
hazardous jobs.

Now, the Navy based its mutiny case on
observation of a meeting held in the

brig. Was this meeting about planning a
mutiny? No, sir.

It was about obeying orders.

Fights were breaking out, and a bunch of
us told the boys to cool it.

Obey the guards.

So you're saying it was a conspiracy to
obey orders?

Objection. Withdrawn. Chief, that day
that you refused to return to duty, did

you believe you were disobeying orders?

We didn't refuse to go back.

We refused to return to the same
conditions that caused the blast.

We wanted answers so it wouldn't happen
again.

And they gave us gloves.

Thank you, Chief.

Chief, would you have us believe that
there was no talk in the brig of work

stoppage?

I'd be lying if I told you there were no
words uttered in anger.

And do you acknowledge that orders were
given to return to work?

Yes, ma 'am. And yet you chose not to
follow them.

That's right, Lieutenant.

Tell me then, how can we come to any
other conclusion except that you were

willfully disobeying orders?

Back then, the Navy didn't see us as
fighting men.

They saw the color of our skin.

And it saw cheap, expendable labor.

Discrimination is unlawful.

To me, Lieutenant, that makes the orders
unlawful.

This was 1944, Chief. The law was
different.

The values of the Navy were still the
same.

Same as they are today.

I don't think we're here to put the
values of the Navy on trial. In fact, I

think, Chief, you're here to shame this
institution into an admission of guilt.

Objection, Your Honor.

Sustained.

Do you have a question, Lieutenant?

I have an answer, Your Honor.

Okay.

Go ahead, Chief McBride.

I'm not here to shame the Navy.

I served it for 30 years.

I have a grandson in the Arabian Sea
right now, and I'm proud of him.

I love the Navy.

I love my country.

But that doesn't change the fact that
what happened to me and 49 other men was

wrong.

The Navy teaches responsibility.

And this is one time the Navy needs to
take that lesson to heart.

The accused and counsel will rise.

You may publish your findings.

Chief Petty Officer Aubrey McBride,
United States Navy, retired.

On the charge and specification of
mutiny, this court finds you not guilty.

On the charges and specifications of
insubordination and disobeying orders,

court finds you not guilty.

This court is dismissed.

Thank you, Commander.

Thank you. You are welcome, Chief.
Congratulations, Chief.

Oh, you were right. He's good.

Chief McBride, I think this is the
verdict we're happy to live with.

Congratulations, Chief.

You fought the good fight.

Oh, you too, Lieutenant.

Chaplain.

I owe you.

But I have one more favor to ask.

Name it.

And Lord, may the soul of Randall, our
comrade in arms, and the souls of all

faithfully departed rest in peace.

Amen. Amen.

Thank you, Chaplain, for helping me to
honor an old friend.

Don't mention it.

Randall told me when his kids used to
ask him what he did in the war, he'd

Told him he worked in a factory.

The way things were at Port Chicago
wasn't that far from the truth.

I'm sure there are others who did the
same, Chief.

No, I had my day in court, Commander.

I'm grateful to you.

There are 49 others still waiting.

You're talking about an uphill battle,
Chief, going to Congress.

What's on your schedule tomorrow,
Commander?

I suspect I'll be getting a call bright
and early.

0800. Make that 0900.

I'm mellowing my old age.