Howard Blind served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in World War II. While serving on the submarine USS Crevalle (SS-291), he was lost overboard on September 11, 1944 in the Flores Sea as a result of accidental submergence. He was award the US Navy Cross medal and the Bronze Star medal.
Navy Cross Citation: "The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Howard James Blind (NSN: 0-108587), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and intrepidity in the line of his profession upon the occasion of a surfacing accident to the U.S.S. CREVALLE (SS-291), on 11 September 1944. As Officer of the Deck, upon reaching the bridge and observing that the ship was re-submerging with the upper conning tower hatch open Lieutenant Blind fought his way through a torrent of water and with complete disregard of his own safety struggled with the hatch until it was closed, although the ship had submerged at the time to a keel depth of 150 feet. His action was a major contributing factor to the saving of the ship and her crew and undoubtedly cost him his own life. His actions and conduct on this occasion was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 03215 (December 6, 1944)"
