The USS Silversides (SS-236), a Gato-class submarine, represented the peak of naval ingenuity and resilience during World War II. Commissioned in December 1941, just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the submarine quickly gained renown in the Pacific Theater, credited with sinking 23 enemy ships totaling over 90,000 tons. While its success in battle is legendary, one of its most remarkable stories is not about torpedoes or evasive maneuvers but an extraordinary act of medical improvisation deep beneath enemy waters. In December 1942, during its fourth war patrol, the crew of the Silversides faced a dire medical emergency that would test their resourcefulness and resolve.
Bent Spoons and Bravery
Patrol Reports 