Rear Admiral Norvell Ward died July 19th 2005 at age 92

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Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 12:47 PM
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ubject: [SVARA] Rear Adm Norvell Ward

Rear Admiral Norvell Ward died July 19th at age 92.

In 1942 while assigned to the USS Seadragon SS-194, Ward, then a Lt. assisted Pharmacist's Mate Wheeler Lipes and Franz Hoskins perform an appendectomy on 19 year old Dean Rector, while submerged in enemy territory.

Ward assisted Lipes while Hoskins acted as the anesthesiologist.

The surgery went well and Rector was back on the job in days.

Rector was later lost aboard the USS Tang SS-306, when in October
1944, her last torpedo circled around and struck the boat, sinking her.

Ward went on to later Skipper the USS Guardfish SS-217 on her 5th,
6th, 7th, 8th and 9th patrols. The Guardfish, one of the most successful submarines of all time also received two Presidential Citations. One of only three boats to do so.

An interesting side note, the USS Guardfish has the unique distinction of being the only US Submarine to sink a US warship.

While returning from her unsuccessful 10th patrol, under the command of Douglas Hammond, mis-identified the US salvage ship USS Extractor and sank her.

The Guardfish was able to rescue all but six of the Extractor's crew.

73,

Bill KA8VIT USS COD Amateur Radio Club - W8COD USS COD SS-224 (NECO)

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