NEW YORK, February 10, 1951. Eddy Duchin, dies of leukemia. A few hours before he succumbed to the cancer of the blood disease, the 41-year-old band leader was presented with a naval citation for meritorious performance as a lieutenant commander during World War II. Duchin was the executive officer of a destroyer. He participated in the invasion of Normandy and, while serving with the 3rd Fleet in the Pacific, joined in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa landings.