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Casualty Info
Home Town Not Specified
Last Address Casper, WY
Casualty Date Sep 11, 1944
Cause Non Hostile- Body Not Recovered
Reason Drowned, Suffocated
Location South China Sea
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
Last Known Activity The only man to lose his life on USS Crevalle (SS-291)
Comments/Citation
Name of Award
Navy Cross
Year Awarded
1944
Details behind Award:
Awarded for actions during the World War II
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)
Action Date: September 11, 1944
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U.S.S. Crevalle (SS-291)
