This Day in History: 1944-08-09

Twelve workers of the Dutch illegal paper “Trouw” executed at Camp Vught in the Netherlands.  Smokey Bear debuts as spokeman for fire prevention. The U.S. 79th & 90th Divisions enter Le Mans, France.  258 African-American sailors based at Port Chicago, CA refused to load a munitions ship following a cargo vessel explosion that killed 320 men, two-thirds of them black.  (Fifty of the sailors were convicted of mutiny, fined and imprisoned.)