including carol cherry's father, cyrill shephard, sentenced to prison for almost two years at the aged until this happened. he was commended for his bravery after the explosion. >> reporter: 80 years later, navy secretary carlos del toro exonerated the black sailors. >> they took the right course of action by denying to go back to work under similar circumstances. >> reporter: yet they lived and died with this dark cloud. >> and that's the unfortunate part about this, and i pray that an exoneration will bring peace to their souls and bring peace to their family members. >> reporter: in july, carol cherry was presented with a flag at a memorial ceremony at port chicago. >> i am so proud of that flag. >> reporter: it now sits on her shelf, a shrine to her father. >> and i thank my pop for what he did. i'm so proud of him. and i'm so happy for where we are at this moment. i wish he was here to see it. >> reporter: and wishes she could tell him justice was finally done, and the navy now says her pop was a hero. for "eye on america," this is charlie d'agata in sycamore, illinois. >> norah:

including carol cherry's father cyril shepherd, sentenced to prison for almost two years at the age ofsh on his record until this happened. he was commended for his bravery after the explosion. >> reporter: 80 years later, navy secretary carlos del toro exonerated the black sailors. >> they took the right course of action by denying to go back to work under similar circumstances. >> reporter: yet they lived and died with this dark cloud. >> and that's the unfortunate part of this. i pray that an exoneration will bring peace to their souls and bring peace to their family members. >> reporter: in july, carol cherry was presented with a flag at a memorial ceremony at port chicago. >> i am so proud of that flag. >> reporter: it now sits on her shelf, a shrine to her father. >> and i thank my pop for what he did. i'm so proud of him, and i'm so happy for where we are at this moment. i wish he was here to see it. >> reporter: and wishes she could tell him justice was finally done and the navy now says her pop was a hero. for if i didn't change my life, then i wouldn't be here today. "what's