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.
After the war he lived in Wyoming and held various jobs, including rancher, butcher and tru...
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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.
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. He died the same day as another Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss.
David Bleak was a...
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