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World War II Sailor-Turned-Surgeon Dies at 84

By Jennifer Ludden
Published April 23, 2005 at 12:00 AM EDT

Two months ago, the U.S. Navy finally honored Wheeler Lipes, a former pharmacist's mate who performed a life-saving emergency appendectomy aboard a submarine in enemy waters during World War II. Lipes died this week at 84. Jennifer Ludden and Navy medical historian Jan Herman remember Lipes' life.

Copyright 2005 NPR
Jennifer Ludden
Jennifer Ludden helps edit energy and environment stories for NPR's National Desk, working with NPR staffers and a team of public radio reporters across the country. They track the shift to clean energy, state and federal policy moves, and how people and communities are coping with the mounting impacts of climate change.
See stories by Jennifer Ludden