Fall River in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
DD 850
A long-serving destroyer
A Gearing-class destroyer, USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. was built in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1945. She was an all-purpose ship: speedy, maneuverable, and adaptable to any task. Built in only eight months, she served the Navy for 27 years.
Many historically significant events mark her long career. She spent time after World War II as a peacekeeper in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. During the Korean War, she joined action in the Pacific. In 1961 she steamed to Washington, DC and joined President John F. Kennedy's inaugural celebration. Shortly thereafter in her home port of Newport, Rhode Island, she offered a platform for President Kennedy, the First Lady, and other dignitaries to watch the 1962 America's Cup yacht race.
Her most heroic moment is marked by a critical role in the 1962 high-stakes blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. She also participated in the recoveries of rocket capsules during the mid-1960s NASA and Gemini Apollo space programs.
,br> She was decommissioned in 1973 and joined Battleship Cove in 1974.
🔱 USS Joseph. P. Kennedy Jr. is a National Historic Landmark
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Location. 41° 42.31′ N, 71° 9.776′ W. Marker is in Fall River, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It can be reached from Water Street west of Davol Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Water St, Fall River MA 02720, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: USS Lionfish (here, next to this marker); USS Massachusetts (here, next to this marker); PT Boats (here, next to
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
