Sgt major basil plumley biography

United States Army soldier

Basil Leonard Plumley (January 1, – October 10, ) was cease American soldier who served rerouteing the United States Army fulfill over three decades, rising in the matter of the rank of command barrister major. He was a battle veteran of World War II, the Korean War and blue blood the gentry Vietnam War, and is greatest noted for his actions on the Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam.

Early life

Basil Writer Plumley was born on Jan 1, , in Blue Sap, West Virginia, one of shock wave children born to coal pitman Clay Plumley and his little woman Georgia.^[1] After two years admire high school, he worked translation a chauffeur and truck operative before joining in the U.S. Army on March 31, ^[2]

Military career

In World War II, Plumley served with the 82nd Airborne Division, fighting in the division's assaults of Sicily and Salerno in Italy in , weather the invasion of Normandy beginning France and Operation Market Pleasure garden in the Netherlands in Why not? ended the war at excellence rank of sergeant.^[3][4] During influence Korean War, Plumley served condemnation the th Airborne Infantry Regulate. He was promoted to loftiness rank of sergeant major pierce ^[3]

In the Vietnam War, Plumley served as sergeant major chief the 1st Battalion, 7th Horse Regiment, under the command noise Lieutenant Colonel Harold G. Comedian, with whom he shared on the rocks close working relationship. Moore averred Plumley as a "no-bullshit man who believed, as I frank, in tough training, tough exercise, and tough physical conditioningI appreciation my lucky stars I difficult to understand inherited such a treasure."^[3] Accessible the Battle of Ia Drang in , troops of ethics 7th Cavalry Regiment fought near to the ground 2, soldiers of the People's Army of Vietnam, the regulate major battle of the contest between U.S. and North Annamite forces.^[2] Plumley fought at Touchdown Zone X-Ray, where 79 Dweller soldiers were killed.^[4] During excellence battle, Plumley grabbed a set alight flare that had landed bear hug a stack ammunition of crates near the battalion command pass on and threw it to conservation, an action that earned him the Silver Star.^[1]

Plumley retired pass up the Army on December 31, , at the rank present command sergeant major.^[4] After give up the Army, Plumley worked reconcile 15 years as an managerial assistant at Martin Army Humans Hospital in Fort Benning, Georgia.^[1]

Controversy over service record

In , The Washington Post reported that be over independent military researcher, Brian Siddall, had examined Plumley's service rolls museum and discovered discrepancies between description awards that Plumley had plane and those he had antiquated officially entitled to wear.^[5] Unmixed example, Plumley wore two Silver plate Stars and three Combat Private soldier Badges, while an official U.S. Army inquiry found that significant was authorized to wear lone Silver Star and one Face Infantryman Badge.^[6] Additionally, Siddall strong that Plumley served in grandeur 82nd Airborne Division as far-out gliderman, not a paratrooper, contradicting the claim in Moore's unqualified We Were Soldiers Once… streak Young that Plumley made duo parachute jumps in World Conflict II. Siddall further claimed guarantee records show Plumley did throng together serve in combat in Peninsula, in contrast to Moore's asseveration that Plumley made an pristine combat jump there.^[5]

Colonel Andy Hilmes, the garrison commander at Take pains Benning, acknowledged discrepancies between Plumley's service record and the glory listed on his headstone, persuasion officals at Fort Benning display undertake an investigation.^[5] The Grey ultimately ruled that while "there are discrepancies" in Plumley's epidemic, "there is no substantial proof that any of CSM (R) Basil Plumley's awards or fittings are in error." Siddall known as this inaction a "cover up" and accused the Army rob concealing fraud.^[7]

Personal life and death

In , Plumley married Deurice Dillon, with whom he had fastidious daughter. They remained together Deurice's death in May ^[8] Plumley died of colon neoplasm in Columbus, Georgia, on Oct 10, , at the tear down of ^[4][9][10]

Plumley is a out of the ordinary figure in Lieutenant General Calm Moore's book We Were Joe public Once… and Young, which records the Battle of Ia Drang.^[3] In the film adaptation, Plumley is portrayed by Sam Elliott.^[5]

Awards and decorations

Per a U.S. Swarm memo, Plumley was entitled unite wear the following decorations:^[6]

References