Jake wrote:
This was on cbs last night-- just a great story on a ww2 vet who used
his knowledge of aviation to invent the respirator

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n3334433.shtml

From a humanitarian viewpoint, perhaps the
greatest individual inventor that ever lived.

His contribution to premature infant survival
is understated in the article. Death rates
of preemies went from 65-70 percent to about
10 percent with the use of his machine. An
absolutely stunning success.

This article goes deeper and is a better read:

http://www.americanheritage.com/arti...004_4_50.shtml