USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr DD 850

10/13/2026

Happy Birthday to the US Navy!

Happy Birthday to the United States Navy!

October 13 marks the birthday of the U.S. Navy, which traces its roots back to the early days of the American Revolution. On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress established a naval force, hoping that a small fleet of privateers could attack British commerce and offset British sea power.

10/09/2026

The laundry bags… every berthing space had one for blues and one for whites. At Decom for JPK in 1973, crewmember Mike Angelini took home the X Division set along with other items. This is the only Vietnam war era set we know to exist currently.

We have a late 1950s canvas set from USS Des Moines acquired interestingly enough by Mike and his son Rich in the 2000s.

We are hoping to fabricate replicas in the future for the laundry and the restored berthing spaces.

Anyone else know of any original bags?

10/06/2026

We are just dropping in to see what condition our condition is in with the Sonar Equipment room deck.

Adam is doing outstanding with these inserts!

10/05/2026

In CIC on KENNEDY, a few destroyers make up what is our large 64" plotter in AIR. The plotter itself is from USS Basilone DD-824 of the Gearing class and the arrow indicator is from USS Sampson DDG-10, a Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyer.

10/03/2026

Two volunteers aboard today on an off weekend. Chris DiChiara completed welding of the boat winch frame with Rich Angelini fire watch and general help.

Next step is to prep all components real well, prime with two part epoxy, paint, and reassemble.

Goal is still end of October for completion. Those rust stains from this effort won’t be there much longer. Rich is itching to prep and paint this section of fantail we couldnt do this summer cause of this effort.

10/02/2026

Adam and Marcus restarted our welding effort in the SONAR Equipment room. These inserts were just seal welded into the existing deck.

We hope to complete the SONAR Equipment room deck repairs by the end of October. All thanks our donors!

Thanks to our supporters who are enabling KENNEDY to strengthen her major structures. Once completed, the final restoration of SONAR Equipment will be undertaken.

09/29/2026

If you served on a SUMNER or GEARING class destroyer, you may remember an electrical part storeroom under the fantail on the port side next to Aft Steering.

The crew last Saturday organized and cleaned it up. Currently, we use it for its original purpose, storing electrical spares. We will be applying a protective coating to the steel deck over the next year since it has now been exposed.

Thanks to the crew!

09/28/2026

Nor'easter is no problem for JOEY P. Four volunteers aboard yesterday with the rain giving the crew a chance to organize and clean.

Chris DiChiara attacked the brass in the Pilot House to keep it shining. Paul Scalabroni, Gregg Wiliams, and Alex Vaughan began organizing the areas under the Fantail due to the deck replacement project. Tools, steel, and equipment had all been stored in the area.

The crew reinstalled the "missing" electrical panel cover for C-204 berthing under Fantail and forward of MT52 handling room. It was a relief that it was found. They also cleaned up and organized the Shipfitter Shop as well.

The Shipfitter Shop and Aft Steering will be seeing complete refurbishment over the next year or so as we now can work in our spaces under the Fantail.

Thanks to our crew!

09/26/2026

Inside The History: Mark V Target Designator System (TDS) on USS JOSEPH P. KENNEDY JR DD-850.

FT1/C Tracy Garner off USS Floyd B. Parks DD-884 and USS George K. Mackenzie DD-836 joins JPK restoration lead Rich Angelini as they walk us through the Mark V Target Designator System (TDS) in Combat Information Center on USS JOSEPH P. KENNEDY JR.