Norman Ives graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1920. Following the tragic accidents of two submarines in 1926 and the following year, during which all on board perished, the U.S.S. S-4 was salvaged following its sinking in 1927 and rebuilt as a floating laboratory. The S-4 was detached in June 1929 to serve as the Submarine Safety Test Unit experimental vessel under Charles Momsen, who had led in the salvage of the two recently lost submarines. His work led to the successful tests on the “Momsen Lung,” a breathing device under development by the Submarine Safety Test Unit to enable submariners to escape from a sunken submarine. He was Killed in Action as a U.S. Navy Captain in World War II.