David B. Bleak

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David B. Bleak
February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2006

Place of birth	Idaho Falls, Idaho
Place of death	Arco, Idaho
Allegiance	United States Army
Years of service	1950 - unknown
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

David B. Bleak (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2006) was an Idaho native who enlisted in the Army in 1950. During his service in the Korean War he engaged in hand-to-hand combat for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. His actions saved the life of at least one of his comrades. He was presented the Medal of Honor by President Eisenhower in October 1953.

1 Medal of Honor citation
2 Post-war life
3 Trivia
4 References

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Medical Company 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Vicinity of Minari-gol, Korea, 14 June 1952.

Entered service at: Shelley, Idaho.

Born: 27 February 1932, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

G.O. No.: 83, 2 November 1953.

Citation: Sgt. Bleak, a member of the medical company, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. As a medical aidman, he volunteered to accompany a reconnaissance patrol committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain, the group was subjected to intense automatic weapons and small arms fire and suffered several casualties. After administering to the wounded, he continued to advance with the patrol. Nearing the military crest of the hill, while attempting to cross the fire-swept area to attend the wounded, he came under hostile fire from a small group of the enemy concealed in a trench. Entering the trench he closed with the enemy, killed 2 with bare hands and a third with his trench knife. Moving from the emplacement, he saw a concussion grenade fall in front of a companion and, quickly shifting his position, shielded the man from the impact of the blast. Later, while ministering to the wounded, he was struck by a hostile bullet but, despite the wound, he undertook to evacuate a wounded comrade. As he moved down the hill with his heavy burden, he was attacked by 2 enemy soldiers with fixed bayonets. Closing with the aggressors, he grabbed them and smacked their heads together, then carried his helpless comrade down the hill to safety. Sgt. Bleak's dauntless courage and intrepid actions reflect utmost credit upon himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service.^[1]

[edit] Post-war life

After the war he lived in Wyoming and held various jobs, including rancher, butcher and truck driver. He eventually became a janitor at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, where he worked his way up until his retirement in the mid-1990s as chief hot cell technician (one who disposes of spent nuclear fuel rods). For a time from the mid-70s to mid-80s, he spent time as a dairy farmer in Moore, Idaho. His hobbies included rock polishing.

He died March 23, 2006 from emphysema, Parkinson's Disease, and complications from a hip fracture.