David B. Bleak
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{{Infobox Military Person
|name= ''David B. Bleak''
|born= {{birth date|1932|2|27}}
|died= {{death date and age|2006|3|23|1932|2|27}}
|placeofbirth= [[Idaho Falls, Idaho]]
|placeofdeath= [[Arco, Idaho]]
|image= [[Image:DavidBleak.jpg|150px]]
|caption= '''Sergeant Bleak in his Army uniform'''
|nickname=
|allegiance= [[United States|United States of America]]
|branch= [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears= 1950 - unknown
|rank= [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]]
|commands=
|unit=223d Infantry Regiment, [[40th Infantry Division (United States)|40th Infantry Division]]
|battles= [[Korean War]]
|awards= [[Medal of Honor]]<br/>[[Purple Heart]]
|portrayedby=
}}
'''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 [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|President Eisenhower]] in October 1953.
==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 [[Radioactive waste|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]]. He died the same day as another Medal of Honor recipient, [[Desmond Doss]].
==Awards and decorations==
Sergeant Bleak's awards include:
*[[Image:Ribbon-MOH.jpg|60px]] [[Medal of Honor]]
*[[Image:Purple Heart BAR.svg|60px]] [[Purple Heart]]
==Medal of Honor citation==
Rank and organization: [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]], [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], Medical Company 223d Infantry Regiment, [[40th Infantry Division (United States)|40th Infantry Division]].
Place and date: Vicinity of Minari-gol, [[Korean War|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.<ref name=AMOHW>*{{cite web
|accessdate=2007-12-30
|url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/koreanwar.html
|title = "DAVID B. BLEAK" entry
|work = Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War
|date = [[July 16]], [[2007]]
|publisher= CMH, U.S Army}}</ref>
==See also==
{{portal|United States Army|United States Department of the Army Seal.svg}}
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients]]
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Korean War]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*{{findagrave|13777484}} Retrieved on [[2007-12-09]]
*{{cite web
|accessdate=2007-12-30
|url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/koreanwar.html
|title = "DAVID B. BLEAK" entry
|work = Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War
|date = [[July 16]], [[2007]]
|publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History|Center of Military History (CMH)]], United States Army}}
*{{cite news
|accessdate=2006-03-28
|title=Soldier David Bleak; Won Medal of Honor
|author=Bernstein, Adam
|work=Washington Post Staff
|date=[[March 27]], [[2006]] |page=B05}}
{{Persondata
|NAME= Bleak, David B.
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= Army [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
|DATE OF BIRTH=
|PLACE OF BIRTH=
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bleak, David B.}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from emphysema]]
[[Category:People with Parkinson's disease]]
[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease]]
[[Category:Army Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Purple Heart medal]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]