Ep 20. Port Chicago

In JAG season 7 episode 20 titled "Port Chicago," the team of lawyers and investigators from the Navy's Judge Advocate General's office are tasked with investigating a devastating explosion that occurred at the Port Chicago naval base in California during World War II. The explosion took place when two munitions ships collided, resulting in a massive blast that killed over 300 people and injured more than 400 others.

The main focus of the episode centers around a survivor from the explosion, a Navy veteran who was a cook at the base named Cecil Harris (played by Charles Dutton). Harris believes that the explosion was due to negligence and racial discrimination, as the majority of the men working on the docks were African American and had not received adequate training for the dangerous job of loading munitions onto ships.

As the JAG team begins to investigate the incident, they encounter numerous roadblocks and obstacles. Many of the witnesses they speak to are reluctant to talk about what happened, either due to fear of retaliation or because they simply don't want to relive the traumatic event. Additionally, the Navy is resistant to the investigation, as they fear that it could damage their reputation and potentially lead to legal action against them.

Despite these challenges, the JAG team presses on with their investigation, determined to uncover the truth about what happened at Port Chicago. They interview survivors, review reports and documents, and examine the physical evidence from the explosion. As they delve deeper into the case, they begin to uncover a pattern of discriminatory practices at the base, including segregation and unequal treatment of African American workers.

As the investigation heats up, tensions rise between the JAG team and the Navy brass. The higher-ups in the Navy become increasingly defensive and hostile towards the investigators, and it becomes clear that they will do whatever it takes to prevent the truth from coming out. In the midst of all this, Harris grows increasingly frustrated and angry, feeling that his fellow survivors and the victims' families deserve justice for what happened.

In the end, the JAG team manages to uncover the truth about the Port Chicago explosion, despite the Navy's attempts to thwart their investigation. They reveal the extent of the discrimination and negligence that took place at the base, and the devastating consequences that resulted from it. The episode serves as a powerful commentary on the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the United States, and the importance of fighting for justice in the face of oppression and discrimination.