COOL DUDES I ADMIRE: SGT. DAVID BLEAK

DAVID BLEAK

enlisted in the Army in 1950— The 6’5”, 250 lb idaho native became a medic attached the to 40th infantry where he soon found himself in Korea.

In June of 1952, Sgt. Bleak, along with 20 other soldiers, volunteered for a prisoner snatch mission. Approaching enemy territory, the patrol was quickly ambushed. Bleak ran from the rear of the patrol and immediately began treating the wounded. In a nearby trench, the enemy opened fire and wounded more Americans. Without hesitation, Bleak rushed the trench, tackling a Chinese soldier. Legend has it, he broke the Soldiers neck with his bare hands— When a second one approached, he crushed his windpipe— By the time the third one got to him, he had his knife drawn and killed him.

Bleak returned to the patrol and continued to treat the wounded. They continued on their mission and were successful in capturing multiple chinese prisoners. On their way back, they were ambushed again by another group of enemy soldiers hidden in a trench.

As Bleak attempted to treated the wounded, he was hit in the leg. Despite heavy enemy fire and his own wounds, Bleak threw a wounded man over his shoulder and began to carry him downhill. Confronted by two more chinese soldiers, Bleak charged them, smashing their heads together and knocking them unconscious. All 20 men of the patrol returned to UN lines although a third of them were wounded— but none of them returned with the balls that David EFFING Bleak did.