US Army SSG David Bleak: Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient

David Bruce Bleak was born on February 27, 1932, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. After dropping out of high school, he worked as a farmer and on the railroads. Wanting to see the world, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1950 and trained as a field medic.

In January 1952, he deployed to Korea with the 2nd Battalion, 223rd Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. Not long afterward, he was promoted to sergeant.

On June 14, 1952, Sergeant Bleak and his unit were operating in the mountains near Minari-gol, South Korea. That day, he volunteered to accompany a reconnaissance patrol tasked with engaging enemy forces and capturing Chinese prisoners.

As the patrol climbed a rugged hill, they were met with intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire, suffering several casualties. Sergeant Bleak moved through the enemy fire to treat the wounded, then continued advancing with the patrol.

While crossing open ground to reach additional casualties, he came under close-range fire from enemy soldiers concealed in a trench. Without hesitation, Bleak leapt into the trench and engaged the Chinese soldiers in hand-to-hand combat, killing two with his bare hands and a third with his trench knife.

Moments later, he saw a concussion grenade land near a fellow soldier. He quickly rolled the wounded man aside, shielding him from the blast.

Later, while continuing to treat the wounded, Sergeant Bleak was struck by enemy fire. Despite his wounds, he lifted a wounded soldier and began carrying him down the hill. When two enemy soldiers armed with bayonets rushed toward him, Bleak seized both attackers and smashed their heads together, neutralizing them before continuing down the slope with the injured man.

Through extraordinary courage and complete disregard for his own safety, he saved multiple lives that day. For his actions, Sergeant David Bleak was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bleak survived the war and left the Army in 1953 with the rank of staff sergeant. He passed away on March 23, 2006, at the age of 74.

You can watch a short video about his story here: https://youtube.com/shorts/cib_a8wQVZg

Medal of Honor 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 two 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 two 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.