Fall River in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
![USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Marker [Front plaque] image. Click for full size.](Photos9/978/Photo978606.jpg?105202682100PM "USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Marker [Front plaque]. Click for full size.")
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 18, 2026
1. USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Marker [Front plaque]
Length: 390 feet. Slightly bigger than a football field. Displacement: 3,460 tons (Fully loaded)
Weapons:
(2) 5-inch/38 caliber twin gun mounts
(2) Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes
(2) Drone Anti-submarine Helicopter (DASH)
Anti-submarine rocket launcher (ASROC)
How many men?
288
18 officers and 270 enlisted
Who is Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.?
(July 25, 1915-August 12, 1944)
"Joe" was a US Navy Lieutenant who served in WWII as a pilot. He was killed in action while flying a secret mission over the English Channel. After his death, he was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism.
"Whatever may come for this country and for the Navy, the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. will be playing an important and forward part."
-President John F. Kennedy, September 1962
DD 850
1945-1973
Cold War warrior
Destroyers like the "Joey P" were ships with a can-do attitude, taking on any mission the US Navy asked. They did it all: delivered mail and fuel to other ships, protected aircraft carriers and battleships, and even fired anti-submarine rockets at enemy submarines. Known as "tin cans" due to their thein
this page online
USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. had additional prestige as the carrier of the Kennedy name. The ship was a family affair: it was named for the eldest Kennedy sibling, christened by Jean Kennedy, and for a short time in 1946, Robert F. Kennedy was a crew member. In 1962, at the hight of the Cuban blockade, President John F. Kennedy called on the ship's crew to board a foreign vessel and search it for contraband. This mission put the ship at the center of a dramatic event seen the world over.
Serving her country for decades in missions around the globe, today the ship is presented in her 1969 layout. On board are the official Massachusetts memorials to those citizens lost during the Korean and Vientam Wars.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Korean • War, Vietnam • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1962.
Location. 41° 42.352′ N, 71° 9.798′ W. Marker is in Fall River, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It is on Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address:
![USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Marker [Rear plaque] image. Click for full size.](Photos9/978/Photo978609.jpg?105202682100PM "USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Marker [Rear plaque]. Click for full size.")
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 18, 2026
2. USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Marker [Rear plaque]
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 (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome Aboard! (within shouting distance of this marker); 16-Inch Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Oerlikon 20mm (within shouting distance of this marker); Pearl Harbor Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Topside (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); World War II (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fall River.
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 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
