Joe Small is a young African-American man who enlists in the Navy to train as a sailor in WWII. Growing up in New Jersey, Small had learned to be independent from an early age through working on his father’s farm. Small arrives for Naval training at the age of twenty-two, making him older and more mature than his fellow recruits. As such, Small earns a reputation as a natural leader, and both his fellow sailors and his white officers respect him and treat him as such. At Port Chicago in California, Small quickly proves himself as a sailor, rising up the ranks and jumping at the chance to become a winch operator. Many of Small’s fellow sailors believe he should receive the position of petty officer—the highest position available for black sailors. Though Lieutenant Delucchi refuses to give Small the promotion—on account of his lack of experience—both Delucchi and the other sailors effectively treat Small as petty officer. While working at Port Chicago, Small suspects that the men are not being properly trained in loading explosives, but Delucchi dismisses Small’s fears.

After the Port Chicago explosion, Small becomes fearful to return to work loading explosives. Small and his fellow sailors debate amongst themselves whether they should follow orders to load explosives, and Small personally decides that he will not return to work under the same conditions that led to the Port Chicago disaster.