like that of cheap war officer, paul mckinley. he flew as a back seat or in an amphibious two-week scout plane aboard the ship. he joined the navy in 1937 and was just about to get out of the service when pearl harbor was attacked. >> and so he was not released out of his four year contract and served the next four years at an extended tour of duty is what they called it. >> reporter: mckinley's family was at the ceremony, offering a book about his wartime experiences. he was on the uss san francisco when it emerged undamaged from the pearl harbor attack. and then seemed to move from one major battle to another. lead midway, they wanted their way to midway and they found other that had gone down had they had introverted course and did not go to midway so they did escape that one that was just proceeding guadalcanal. >> a thought all. >> he was, yeah, he was out there. >> mckinley scout plane had been removed from the ship prior to the bloody battle that killed 103 men. but the plane was used afterwards to track the crippled japane