Basil L. Plumley
| Basil L. Plumley | |
|---|---|
_Basil_L._Plumley_at_West_Point_10_May_2010.JPG) CSM(R) Basil Plumley at West Point, May 10, 2010 | |
| Born |
January 1, 1920 Shady Spring, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died |
October 10, 2012 (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 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 | |
| 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
 |
Combat Infantryman Badge (three awards) | |
 |
Master Combat Parachutist Badge with gold star (indicating 5 combat jumps) | |
 |
Vietnam Army Parachutist Badge | |
 |
Original Air Assault Badge | |
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- Order of Saint Maurice Primicerius and Doughboy Award
- 10 Service Stripes, indicating 30–32 years of service
See also
- Hal Moore
- Bruce Crandall
- Ed Freeman
- Rick Rescorla
- List of Korean War veterans who are recipients of the Bronze Star
- List of three time recipients of the CIB
References
- 1 2 Pitts, Fadell (October 10, 2012). "Retired CSM Basil Plumley dies, Fort Benning mourns loss". WTVM-TV. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 "Deurice Plumley Obituary". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (by Legacy.com). May 29, 2012.
- ↑ Associated Press, "Plumley, veteran of 3 wars, dies at age 92", Military Times, 10 October 2012
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 "West Virginia Deaths, 1853–1970." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah. From originals housed in county courthouses throughout West Virginia. "Death Records."
- ↑ "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.
- 1920 and 1930 US census for Raleigh County, West Virginia
- US Army enlistment records of World War II
- 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment Association
- Moore, Harold G.; Galloway, Joseph L. (1994). We were soldiers once – and young; Ia Drang: the battle that changed the war in Vietnam (First British ed.). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1853105023.