Basil L. Plumley

Basil L. Plumley

CSM(R) Basil Plumley at West Point, May 10, 2010
Born (1920-01-01)January 1, 1920
Shady Spring, West Virginia, U.S.
Died October 10, 2012(2012-10-10) (aged 92)[1]
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.[2]
Spouse(s) Deurice Plumley (c. 1949–2012; her death)[3]
Children Debbie Kimble

Military career

Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1942–1974
Rank Command Sergeant Major
Unit 505th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division
187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Battles/wars

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

Awards 40AD
Other work Administrative worker at Martin Army Community Hospital (1975–1990)

Basil L. Plumley (January 1, 1920 – October 10, 2012[1]) was a career soldier and airborne combat infantryman in the United States Army who eventually achieved the rank of Command Sergeant Major. A veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, he is most famous for his actions during the Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam.

Military career

Plumley enlisted in the US Army as a private on March 31, 1942. He was a member of the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He saw action during the Italian Campaign, the Invasion of Normandy, and Operation Market Garden, making a total of four combat jumps. He was awarded multiple decorations for his service in World War II. Plumley went on to fight in the Korean War and make one more combat jump there with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment. He fought in Vietnam with the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. He participated in the Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam in 1965, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, who praised Plumley as an outstanding NCO and leader in the 1992 book about this battle, We Were Soldiers Once...And Young. The book was the basis for the 2002 film We Were Soldiers, in which Plumley was played by actor Sam Elliott. Plumley was known affectionately by his soldiers as "Old Iron Jaw".

He retired as a command sergeant major on December 31, 1974, having been awarded 28 different personal, unit, campaign and service awards and decorations (40 total) in almost 33 years of military service, spanning World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. After his retirement, he worked 15 more years for the army as a civilian in administration at Martin Army Community Hospital and at various medical clinics around Fort Benning (Fort Benning, Georgia), retiring again in 1990.[4]

Personal life

Plumley was born on January 1, 1920, in Shady Spring, West Virginia, the second son and fifth child of coal miner Clay H. Plumley (September 19, 1879[5]-26 February 1952[6]) and his wife Georgia B. Morton (January 19, 1895[7]-February 16, 1962[6]), both of whom were natives of West Virginia. After two years of high-school, he worked as a chauffeur/driver before enlisting in the US Army on March 31, 1942. In 1948/49, Plumley married Deurice Dillon, who died on May 28, 2012, ending 63 years of marriage. Basil Plumley died of cancer after nine days in Columbus Hospice (Columbus, Georgia), on October 10, 2012. He is survived by his daughter, Debbie Kimble, a granddaughter, and two great-grandchildren.[3]

In popular culture

Plumley was a prominent and central figure in the 1992 book We Were Soldiers Once...And Young by Lt. Gen Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway about the Battle of Ia Drang and was portrayed by actor Sam Elliot in the 2002 film adaption.

Awards and decorations

7th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Combat Infantryman Badge (three awards)
Master Combat Parachutist Badge with gold star (indicating 5 combat jumps)
Vietnam Army Parachutist Badge
Original Air Assault Badge
Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
V
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and Valor Device
Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with one silver and three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal (11 awards)
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Arrowhead
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and 1 silver and 3 bronze campaign stars (to signify 8 campaigns)
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Arrowhead
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Korean Service Medal with Arrowhead device and three campaign stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and three bronze campaign stars
French Croix de Guerre (for World War II service) (attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze star)
Belgian Croix de Guerre (for World War II service) (attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze lion)
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Pitts, Fadell (October 10, 2012). "Retired CSM Basil Plumley dies, Fort Benning mourns loss". WTVM-TV. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  2. Associated Press (October 10, 2012). "Basil Plumley, veteran of 3 wars, featured in 'We Were Soldiers' movie, dies in Georgia". FoxNews.com. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  3. 1 2 "Deurice Plumley Obituary". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (by Legacy.com). May 29, 2012.
  4. Associated Press, "Plumley, veteran of 3 wars, dies at age 92", Military Times, 10 October 2012
  5. United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.
  6. 1 2 "West Virginia Deaths, 1853–1970." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah. From originals housed in county courthouses throughout West Virginia. "Death Records."
  7. "West Virginia Births, 1853–1930." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2008, 2009. From digital images of copies of originals housed in County Courthouses throughout West Virginia. Birth records.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.