View attachment 7350324
Battlesight Zero
It isn't very often you read, "...he grabbed them and smacked their heads together..." in an official award citation...
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On June 14, 1952, Sergeant David B. Bleak volunteered his skills as a medic to accompany a recon patrol. As they ascended a hill under cover of darkness, enemy machine guns opened up, wounding soldiers at the head of the column. Sgt Bleak rushed forward to treat them. Three more Chinese opened up from a nearby trench, wounding another. Bleak charged directly through the fire and jumped into the enemy position. The 6'5", 250 pound medic snatched the nearest Chinese soldier and snapped his neck. When the second approached, Bleak simply grabbed him by the throat and crushed his trachea. Bleak unsheathed his knife and stabbed the third one to death. He returned to treating the wounded until a grenade bounced off the helmet of the man next to him. Bleak tackled the man, smothering him with his huge body and protecting him from the blast. Neither were injured.
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The patrol successfully captured several prisoners. As they descended the hill, the enemy ambushed them once again. Three more Americans went down. Sgt Bleak was shot in the leg attempting to reach them. He dressed his own wounds and those of the three soldiers, one too injured to walk. Despite his leg wound, Bleak heaved the soldier onto his shoulder and continued down the hill. Two more Chinese soldiers suddenly appeared before him with fixed bayonets. Bleak dropped the wounded man, grabbed one Chinese head in each hand, and smashed them together, fracturing both men's skulls. Bleak let their limp bodies fall out of his way then picked up his wounded comrade again. All 20 members of the patrol returned alive to friendly lines.
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For his incredible, fearless actions saving the patrol, Sgt Bleak was awarded the Medal of Honor. At its presentation, President Eisenhower struggled to reach around Bleak's large frame to fasten the ribbon.
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"You have a damned big neck!"