" The first book I ever remember reading cover to cover as a kid was a biography of John Paul Jones (not the bass player!)"
Same here! I wish I could remember the name of it. I ended up in the U.S. Navy in part due to that book.
I wish I could remember the name as well. It inspired me to build my own boat.. which promptly sank in a local pond. I ended up in the Air Force in part due to that!