Park Champion: Rev. Diana McDaniel

Rev. Diana McDaniel has been an ardent supporter of the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, a site that commemorates the largest U.S. home front disaster during World War II, when a ship loaded with ammunition exploded and killed 320 men, 202 of whom were African American. The deadly explosion resulted in a work stoppage and subsequent mutiny trial that ultimately led to the desegregation of the United States armed services. Yet the site, which commemorates a critical moment in our nations history, holds only affiliated national park status, which means that it receives no funding from the government and is not a permanent memorial.

When Diana found this out, she became convinced that something needed to be done to share this story more broadly with America, so she along with a few others formed a nonprofit called Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial. Her all-volunteer coalition has been working to keep the story of the explosion alive, to exonerate those found guilty of mutiny and to build a visitor and interpretive center for the site.

Thus far, their efforts have been highly successful, and have prompted Congressman Miller and Senator Barbara Boxer to introduce legislation this year that would designate Port Chicago as a full unit of the National Park System. This status would provide for a steady government funding source to hire park rangers and build and staff a visitor center for public education about Port Chicago.

Diana, whose uncle survived the disaster, wants everyone to know how important the work done at Port Chicago was in helping win World War II and is hopeful that those accused of mutiny will eventually be exonerated. In the meantime, she continues to do all she can to ensure the story is not forgotten.

Learn more about Port Chicago National Memorial

Watch a video of Rev. Diana McDaniel speaking at the Port Chicago Mutiny 65th Anniversary Commemoration