Herbert Arvan was born on May 1, 1924, in New Iberia, Louisiana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 16, 1941, and completed basic training and advanced training as a Mess Attendant at NTS Norfolk, Virginia, in January 1942. His first assignment was aboard the submarine USS O-4 (SS-65) from January to February 1942, followed by service aboard the submarine USS S-48 (SS-159) from February to March 1942. Matt2c Arvan next served as a Mess Attendant aboard the submarine USS S-20 (SS-125) from March to April 1942, and then returned to USS S-48 from April to May 1942. He transferred to the crew of the submarine USS Grunion (SS-216) on May 23, 1942, and was killed in action during a confrontation with the armed Japanese freighter Kano Maru on July 30, 1942. On August 22, 2007, a search team organized by the three sons of CDR Mannert Abele (the Captain of the Grunion when she was sunk) used a remotely operated vehicle to find a sunken vessel 3,000 feet down in the Bering Sea north of Kiska Island at the tip of the Aleutian Islands. On October 1, 2008, the U.S. Navy announced that the sunken vessel is the World War II submarine USS Grunion (SS-216).

His Navy Commendation Medal Citation reads:

For meritorious conduct as a member of the crew of the U.S.S. GRUNION which destroyed three enemy destroyers while engaged in a war patrol in enemy controlled waters. Despite severe and persistent anti-submarine measures resulting from these three successful attacks, the GRUNION was brought safely through the counter attacks and continued an aggressive war patrol. As a member of the crew of the GRUNION, your performance of duty was an important and material contribution to the prosecution of this war.