In September 1942, Pharmacist's Mate Wheeler Lipes performed an emergency

appendectomy An appendectomy, also termed appendicectomy, is a Surgery, surgical operation in which the vermiform appendix (a portion of the intestine) is removed. Appendectomy is normally performed as an urgent or emergency procedure to treat complicated acu ...

aboard a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

. Although he did not have proper medical equipment or formal surgical training, the operation was a success. After the war, Petty Officer Lipes remained in the Navy and later received a Medical Service Corps commission in 1951. He retired as a lieutenant commander.

Fame

In September 1942, aboard USS '' Seadragon,'' Wheeler B. Lipes performed the first major surgery aboard a

when a shipmate showing symptoms of

acute appendicitis Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a rup ...

required an emergency operation to survive. Positioned in enemy waters and lacking standard medical equipment, Lipes performed a successful

using kitchen instruments such as spoons and tea strainers. "Doc" Lipes, as he was called, had no formal surgical training and just three years of medical experience as a hospital lab technician at the time of the surgery. The Navy medical establishment was angered by the occurrence, and there was talk of a court martial.

Popular media

On December 14, 1942, the ''

Chicago Daily News The ''Chicago Daily News'' was an afternoon daily newspaper in the midwestern United States, published between 1875 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois. History The ''Daily News'' was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty ...

'' published an article by

George Weller George Anthony Weller (July 13, 1907 – December 19, 2002) was an American novelist, playwright, and journalist for ''The New York Times'' and ''Chicago Daily News''. He won a 1943 Pulitzer Prize as a ''Daily News'' war correspondent. Weller' ...

about the surgery. It won the

1943 Pulitzer Prize The following are the Pulitzer Prizes for 1943. Journalism awards *Public Service: The ''Omaha World-Herald'', "for its initiative and originality in planning a statewide campaign for the collection of scrap metal for the war effort. The Nebrask ...

for Reporting. The events documented in the piece were incorporated into the film ''

Destination Tokyo ''Destination Tokyo'' is a 1943 black and white American submarine war film. The film was directed by Delmer Daves in his directorial debut,McGee, Scott"Articles: 'Destination Tokyo' (1944)."'' TCM.com'', 2019. Retrieved: August 15, 2019. and t ...

'' (1943) starring

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...

. Lipes's heroic surgery was the basis of an episode on ''

The Cavalcade of America ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

,'' a long-running radio series featuring historical dramas. The episode, titled “Pharmacist’s Mate, First Class,” aired on NBC's main

Red Network Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondary ...

on May 24, 1943. Michael O'Shea starred as the sailor based on Mr. Lipes in a program written by Stuart Hawkins. Mr. Lipes (pron. LYPS) makes an appearance at the end of the show.

Recognition

Wheeler B. Lipes eventually received official recognition for his feat over 60 years after the submarine surgery. He was awarded a

Navy Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...

at a ceremony at

Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune () is a United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports ( Wilmingt ...

, N.C.Adam Bernstein
"Wheeler Lipes Dies; Did Emergency Surgery While on Sub"

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

. April 19, 2005. Page B06. Retrieved on 2008-11-26.

References

Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Navy officers People from Craig County, Virginia 1920 births 2005 deaths People from New Bern, North Carolina Military personnel from Virginia Military personnel from North Carolina United States Navy personnel of World War II {{US-navy-bio-stub