Korean War Medal of Honor Winner David Bleak

The farm country of eastern Idaho grows more than potatoes, it grows heroes. Men like David Bleak, Medal of Honor winner for his valor in Korea. What David Bleak did to win his Medal of Honor, as an Army medic in 1952, was wildly courageous. His determination saved the lives of the men he was there to administer to, and his actions earned him a place in their hearts and in Medal of Honor history.

David was born on February 27th, 1932, in the Idaho hills. He enlisted in the army at the youthful age of eighteen on November 1, 1950. He just wanted to see the world, and see the world he did. He received his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and soon found himself assigned to a Medical Company that became attached to the 2nd Battalion, 223rd Infantry Regiment of California's 40th Infantry Division. At California's Camp Cook, Bleak was given more extensive medical aid training, and after several months he was made a Corporal. He and his unit were sent to Korea in January of 1952. He was promoted to Sergeant soon after his arrival, somewhere near the 38th parallel.

The rugged mountain country was devoid of much cover, as most of the trees had been cut down and used to reinforce entrenched enemy positions in the area. On June 14th, the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon of the outfit Bleak was with was assigned the mission to capture some of the Korean and Chinese troops in the area for interrogation. Despite the terrible risk, Bleak volunteered as the medic for this undertaking. The patrol set out in the darkest hours before dawn, made up of twenty men and commanded by a senior Tech Sergeant. David Bleak took up his position at the end of the detail, where he could quickly assess if his services were needed. They soon would be.

When the patrol got near an enemy encampment, still in the darkness, it immediately drew intense automatic weapons and small arms fire. Many in the patrol were wounded, and the six foot five, two hundred and fifty pound Bleak attended to them.He then continued on with the rest of the patrol, but heavy fire stopped them once more. What he would do in the next few minutes made him a hero forever.