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. Motto: Nickname: {{{nickname}}} Map Political Statistics Founded 1864 Incorporated 1891 Bonneville County Mayor Jared Fuhriman Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 45. ... Arco, Idaho Arco is a city located in Butte County, Idaho. ... US Army Seal The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... This article is about the rank of sergeant. ... The 40th Infantry Division (Mech) is a division of the United States Army. ... Three different versions of the Medal of Honor are awarded: one each for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. ... The Purple Heart is a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in, or with, the U.S. military after April 5, 1917. ... February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (83rd in Leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Three different versions of the Medal of Honor are awarded: one each for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. ... Dwight David Eisenhower, GCB, (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969, popularly known as Ike) was an American soldier and politician. ...

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Medical Company 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. This article is about the rank of sergeant. ... US Army Seal The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The 40th Infantry Division (Mech) is a division of the United States Army. ...

Place and date: Vicinity of Minari-gol, Korea, 14 June 1952. Overview map of the Korean War The Korean War from June 25, 1950 to cease-fire on July 27, 1953 (the war has not ended officially), was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Entered service at: Shelley, Idaho. Shelley is a city located in Bingham County, Idaho. ...

Born: 27 February 1932, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

G.O. No.: 83, 2 November 1953. November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ...

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] Military crest is a term in military science that refers to the shoulder of a hill or ridge rather than its actual crest (highest point). ...

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. Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 10th 253,554 km² 450 km 580 km 0. ... The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) is an 890 square mile (2,300 km²) complex located in the Idaho desert between the towns of Arco and Idaho Falls. ... A Russian fissile material storage facility Radioactive waste is waste material containing radioactive chemical elements that does not have a practical purpose. ... A dairy farmer is a farmer who specializes in raising dairy cattle, specifically for milk and/or cheese products. ... Moore is a city located in Butte County, Idaho. ...

He died March 23, 2006 from emphysema, Parkinson's Disease, and complications from a hip fracture. March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (83rd in Leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hip fracture is a fracture in the femur (thighbone) just below the hip joint. ...

Trivia

David Bleak died the same day as another Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss. Desmond T. Doss (January 17, 1919 - March 23, 2006) was the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. ...

References

1. ↑ U.S. Army Center for Military History
2. Washington Post obituary: Soldier David Bleak; Won Medal of Honor (retrieved 28 March, 2006)