Museum Salutes Late Coronadan

Vice Admiral Paul F. McCarthy, one-time commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, died Oct. 5, and the Maritime Museum of San Diego, where he sat as a board member, offered an appropriate farewell earlier this month.

The Star of India, which sits in San Diego Bay, “scandalized the yards” in a salute to McCarthy. The gesture, a sign of mourning, was offered in McCarthy's honor days after his death.

Mark Montijo, a museum vice president, said the gesture is performed by not setting the yards (from which sails hang) square to mast, but at an angle or slightly crossed instead. The tradition usually denotes a death onboard, but is also set aside to honor leaders, such as ship owners, or as in McCarthy's case, a museum trustee.

The decorated officer rose to become commander of the Seventh Fleet from 1985-86. He lived in a Coronado condominium complex where he served as president of the homeowners association.

The Massachusetts native's services are set for Monday at , with interment to follow at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma.