Sigh, so here's where we get into fitting the narrative to the bias. The flag is backward because it's on the Starboard side of the vessel and flown the direction of travel, as though it were hoisted. This is similar to how U.S. shoulder patch flags are attached to the right shoulder of Army uniforms.
The flag is referred to as the "Perry Flag". How many States were in the Union in and around 1853? Anyone? Ok, 31.
Flag mounted on bulkhead of veranda deck is the very same one flown by Commodore Matthew C. Perry when he led the US Navy's Far East Squadron into Tokyo Bay in 1853-1854.
See: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_C._Perry
Here's some info on the nickels ... What's the conspiracy around them?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/555th_Parachute_Infantry_Battalion_(United_States)