Career
Fleek joined the Army from Cincinnati, Ohio, and by May 27, 1969 was serving as a Sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. During a firefight on that day, in Bình Dương Province, Republic of Vietnam, Fleek used his helmet to scoop an enemy-thrown hand grenade with his helmet. The grenade exploded before he could get it away from his body, sacrificing his life to protect those around him.
Fleek, aged 21 at his death, was buried at St. Petersburg Cemetery in his birth city of St. Petersburg, Kentucky.
Reacting instantly, Realizing that his men had not seen the grenade.