“The Jumpin’ Joey” has something for every reader: a studied analysis of mid-20th-century geopolitical and military history, a rigorous technical exposition on how to keep a “Tin Can” Navy destroyer up to speed and mission-ready, and reflections by a freshly minted naval officer learning about life and leadership on his first seagoing assignment.

“I reported aboard the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. as a very young man,” writes the author, “but took giant steps, along with many others, to reach manhood.”

“The folks I depict in this story are my heroes. Life is about providing an inheritance to society beyond what we experienced. We have crashes along the way, but we make our world a little bit better.”

Get to know the JPK and its men. Come aboard. Permission granted.

“Whether you love ships or are simply fascinated by stories of people overcoming personal challenges, ‘The Jumpin’ Joey’ will hold your attention and is most highly recommended as a read for the Navy enthusiast, the history buff, or any reader who enjoys a well-written story of adventure and success.” — Capt. Richard T. Holmes, USN (Ret.)

“This book details the ship’s contributions to the service of our country and the author’s own story of adventure. ‘The Jumpin’ Joey’ is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a behind-the-scenes view of American history.” — Capt. Bill Nurthen, USN (Ret.)

About the author: Throughout a distinguished military career, Capt. Randolph M. Brooks, USN (Ret.), put his nuclear engineering and ocean engineering training to work aboard several US Navy ships, including the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850), on which he served from 1970 to 1973 as Chief Engineer. In addition, he has been a project leader for overhauls and conversions of US seagoing vessels. He has taught and supervised post-graduate studies at MIT and was the Director of Submarine Design and Engineering in Washington, DC, helping to design the USS Virginia class submarine now being built. Now retired, he lives in South Carolina with his wife, Debora.