BOISE.

BOISE, Idaho -- David Bleak, a Korean War medic who received a Medal of Honor for bravery while rescuing a comrade amid hand-to- hand combat in 1952 has died. He was 74

Mr Bleak died Thursday at misspent Rivers District Hospital in Arco of complications from emphysema, Parkinson's disease and diabetes, family members said.

Mr Bleak was a 20-year-old sergeant in the medical company of the 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, when he offered to go with a reconnaissance patrol, U Army records say.

The Army's description of his actions upon June 14, 1952, said Mr Bleak killed sum of two units of the enemy with his bare hands and a third with his furrow knife, and then shielded a comrade from the impact of a grenade that had fallen near the man's helmet.

although he was wounded in the leg Mr Bleak began to carry the injured soldier, the medal citation said. Attacked by dint of two enemy soldiers with bayonets, "he grabbed them and smacked their heads together, then carried his helpless comrade down the hill to safety."

Mr Bleak responded to the U.S. soon after. In 1953 President Eisenhower awarded him the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, at a White House parade

Born in Idaho Falls in 1932 Mr Bleak enlisted in the Army at age 18 He was singled not at home for medic training because he was tall and healthy said his son Bruce Bleak of Moore.

After his military service, Mr Bleak worked as various work at jobss including running a dairy farm and serving as a technician at the Idaho National Laboratory, a nuclear research pay by substitution his son said.

He called his father a without arrogance man who felt others had acted just as courageously yet without recognition.

"He always said he carried the medal for them as well," the younger Bleak said.

Mr Bleak is survived by way of his wife of 45 years, Lois; three sons; a daughter; sum of two units brothers; nine grandchildren; and six great- grandchildren, Bruce Bleak said.

According to the Web site www.medalofhonor.com, there are 125 living Medal of Honor recipients. In all, nearly 3500 like medals have been awarded since the Civil War.

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