 Most of the dead were black sailors loading the ships after the explosions. The survivors refused orders to keep loading the munitions. The supervising officers, who were white, were given hardship leave. But the black sailors, 256 of them, were court-martialed. Many agreed to go back to work, but 50 held out. They were charged with mutiny. But yesterday, the Pentagon announced all 256 will now be exonerated.