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'{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}} {{Infobox person | name = Basil L. Plumley | birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|01|01}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|10|10|1920|01|01}}<ref name=wtvm/> | birth_place = [[Shady Spring, West Virginia]], U.S. | death_place = [[Columbus, Georgia]], U.S.<ref name="Fox 20121011 BP" /> | placeofburial = | placeofburial_label = | image = CSM(R) Basil L. Plumley at West Point 10 May 2010.JPG | caption = CSM(R) Basil Plumley at [[United States Military Academy|West Point]], May 10, 2010 | spouse = Deurice Plumley (c.&nbsp;1949 – 2012; her death)<ref name="LC Obit" /> | children = Debbie Kimble | module = {{Infobox military person | embed = yes | nickname = | allegiance = {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States|United States of America]] | branch = {{Army|United States}} [[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|20px|United States Army seal]] | serviceyears = 1942–1974 | rank = [[File:Army-USA-OR-09b.svg|27px]] [[Command Sergeant Major (United States)|Command Sergeant Major]] | unit = [[320th Field Artillery Regiment]], [[82nd Airborne Division]] <br/> [[7th Cavalry Regiment]], [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] | battles = [[World War II]] * [[American airborne landings in Normandy|Battle of Normandy]] * [[Operation Market-Garden]] * [[Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine|Rhine]] * [[Western Allied invasion of Germany|Germany]] [[Korean War]] * [[Battle of Porkchop Hill]] [[Vietnam War]] * [[Battle of Ia Drang|Ia Drang Valley]] | awards = 40<small>{{Sup|[[#Awards and decorations|AD]]}}</small> | laterwork = Administrative worker at Martin Army Community Hospital (1975–1990) }} }} '''Basil L. Plumley''' (January 1, 1920&nbsp;– October 10, 2012<ref name=wtvm />) 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 [[United States Army]] as a private on March 31, 1942. He was a gliderman of the [[320th Field Artillery Regiment|320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion]], [[82nd Airborne Division]]. He saw action during the [[Invasion of Normandy]], and [[Operation Market Garden]]. Plumley participated in two glider assaults in the [[European theatre of World War II|European Theater]]. His first was on June 6, 1944, during the [[Invasion of Normandy]], and his second was for [[Operation Market Garden]] on Sept. 18, 1944. Plumley was shot in the hand the same day for which he received the [[Purple Heart]] and was awarded multiple decorations for his service in [[World War II]]. Basil Plumley was stationed between 1951 through February 26, 1953 at [[Fort Campbell]], Kentucky then he went to serve in [[Germany]]. He then fought in Korea during the final months of the [[Korean War]], where he served at The Battle of Old Baldy, as well as the [[Battle of Porkchop Hill]]. For serving in Korea, Plumley received his 2nd Combat Infantryman Badge in 1953. He fought in Vietnam with the 1st Battalion, [[7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|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 [[Non-commissioned officer|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". <!-- TODO: Vietnam war record should be inserted here, but I don't want to just repeat the lead, and don't have a source. --> [[Sergeant Major|Command Sergeant Major]] Basil Plumley served in the [[Republic of Korea]] between 1972 and 1973. He retired as a [[Sergeant Major#United States|command sergeant major]] on December 31, 1974, having been awarded 28 different personal, unit, campaign and service awards and decorations 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 (U.S. state)|Georgia]]), retiring again in 1990.<ref>[[Associated Press]], "[http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/10/ap-basil-plumley-veteran-3-wars-dies-101012/ Plumley, veteran of 3 wars, dies at age 92]", ''[[Military Times]]'', 10 October 2012</ref> ==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<ref>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.</ref>-26 February 1952<ref name="West Virginia Deaths 1970">"West Virginia Deaths, 1853–1970." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah. From originals housed in county courthouses throughout West Virginia. "Death Records."</ref>) and his wife Georgia B. Morton (January 19, 1895<ref>"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.</ref>-February 16, 1962<ref name="West Virginia Deaths 1970"/>), 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, after 63 years of marriage. 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.<ref name="LC Obit" /> ==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 [[We Were Soldiers|film adaption]]. ==Discrepancies in service records== The [[United States Army]] is investigating allegations by a military researcher Brian Siddal, that the late [[Sergeant Major|Command Sergeant Major]] Plumley wore unauthorized combat and valor awards that exaggerated the wartime achievements that made him famous. According to the service records and DD Form 214, he inflated his heroism in battle by wearing two [[Silver Star Medal]]s and [[Bronze Star Medal]]s with [["V" Device]] and two oak leaf clusters for valor in combat instead of wearing one single [[Silver Star Medal]] and a [[Bronze Star Medal]] with only one oak leaf cluster. The [[Silver Star Medal]] was awarded during the [[Vietnam War]]. He was only authorized to wear one [[Combat Infantryman Badge]] for his service in the [[Vietnam War]]. He did not meet the criteria for [[World War II]] or the [[Korean War]]. Plumley was authorized to wear only the [[Glider Badge]] and [[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Master Parachutist Badge]] after [[World War II]]. He graduated a jump school set up by the [[82nd Airborne Division]] in 1943.<ref>http://images.military.com/media/benefits/pdf/plumley_army_memo.pdf</ref> In light of Siddall's research, Army officials at [[Fort Benning]] are investigating the allegations and considering the researchers' request to have the information on Plumley's headstone corrected.<ref>http://mst.vaforvets.va.gov/daily-news/2016/05/17/army-investigating-we-were-soldiers-legend-for-inflating-award.html</ref><ref>https://www.stripes.com/news/us/we-were-soldiers-legend-plumley-s-record-under-review-report-says-1.410001</ref> As of August 2016, based on the available facts, the Army Human Resources Command has determined that there is no substantial evidence that any of the decorations or awards is in error.<ref>https://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured/army-not-amending-war-heros-record.html</ref> ==Awards and decorations== {| |- | colspan=2 width=150px | [[File:CIB3.gif|120px]] | [[Combat Infantryman Badge]] (3rd award) |- | colspan=2 | [[File:Combat Parachutist Badge 5.gif|100px]] | [[Parachutist Badge (United States)#Master Parachutist Badge|Master Parachutist Badge]] with gold jump star |- | colspan=2 | [[File:USAAF - Glider Pilot 4.png|100px]] | [[Glider Badge]] |- | colspan=2 | [[File:OldAirmobileBadge.gif|80px]] | [[Air Assault Badge|Original Air Assault Badge]] |- | colspan=2 | [[File:ViPaBa.jpg|120px]] | Vietnam Army Parachutist Badge |} {{Clear}} {| | width=60px | {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Silver Star]] with one bronze [[oak leaf cluster]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Legion of Merit]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Bronze Star Medal]] with one Oak Leaf Cluster and [["V" Device]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Purple Heart]] with one Oak Leaf Cluster |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=8|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Air Medal]] with eight oak leaf clusters |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Army Commendation Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Army Presidential Unit Citation]] with two Oak Leaf Clusters |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_Good_Conduct_ribbon_11.jpg|width=60}} |[[Army Good Conduct Medal]] (11 awards) |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[American Defense Service Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[American Campaign Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=8|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with [[Arrowhead device]], 1 silver and 3 bronze [[Service Star|campaign stars]] (to signify 8 campaigns and 4 combat jumps) |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[World War II Victory Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Army of Occupation Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[National Defense Service Medal]] with bronze [[service star]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Korean Service Medal]] with Arrowhead device (to denote one combat jump) |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=8|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with one silver and three bronze campaign stars |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Ruban de la croix de guerre 1939-1945.PNG|width=60}} |[[Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)|French Croix de Guerre]] (for [[World War II]] service) ''(attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze star)'' |- |[[File:BEL Croix de Guerre 1944 ribbon.svg|60px]] |[[Belgian Croix de Guerre]] (for World War II service) ''(attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze lion)'' |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (South Vietnam).png|width=60}} |[[Vietnam Cross of Gallantry]] with Bronze Star |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png|width=60}} |[[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation]] |- |[[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|60px]] |[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm]] |- |[[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|60px]] |[[Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Korea Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[United Nations Korea Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}} |[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=campaign-star|ribbon=Korean War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Korean War Service Medal|Republic of Korea War Service Medal]] |} *[[Order of Saint Maurice (United States)|Order of Saint Maurice Primicerius and Doughboy Award]] *10 [[Service Stripe]]s, indicating 30–32 years of service ==See also== {{Portal|Biography|United States Army|World War II}} *[[Hal Moore]] *[[Bruce Crandall]] *[[Ed Freeman]] *[[Rick Rescorla]] ==References== {{Reflist|refs= *<ref name=wtvm>{{cite news |first=Fadell |last=Pitts |publisher=[[WTVM-TV]] |title=Retired CSM Basil Plumley dies, Fort Benning mourns loss |url=http://www.wtvm.com/story/19785743/2012/10/10/retired-csm-basil-plumley-dies-fort-benning-mourns-lossM |date=October 10, 2012 |accessdate=October 10, 2012}}</ref> *<ref name="Fox 20121011 BP">{{cite web|last=Associated Press|title=Basil Plumley, veteran of 3 wars, featured in 'We Were Soldiers' movie, dies in Georgia|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/10/10/basil-plumley-retired-veteran-whose-book-became-were-soldiers-movie-dies-in/|publisher=FoxNews.com|accessdate=2012-10-11|date=October 10, 2012}}</ref> *<ref name="LC Obit">{{cite web|title=Deurice Plumley Obituary|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ledger-enquirer/obituary.aspx?n=Deurice-Plumley&pid=157839404|publisher=Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (by Legacy.com)|date=May 29, 2012}}</ref> }} *1920 and 1930 US census for Raleigh County, West Virginia *US Army enlistment records of World War II *[http://www.us7thcavalry.com/ 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment Association] *{{cite book|last=Moore|first=Harold G.|title=We were soldiers once&nbsp;– and young; Ia Drang: the battle that changed the war in Vietnam|year=1994|publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd.|location=Shrewsbury, UK|isbn=1853105023|edition=First British|author2=Galloway, Joseph L.}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Plumley, Basil L.}} [[Category:1920 births]] [[Category:2012 deaths]] [[Category:Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:United States Army soldiers]] [[Category:American military personnel of World War II]] [[Category:American military personnel of the Vietnam War]] [[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]] [[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]] [[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]] [[Category:Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)]] [[Category:Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium)]] [[Category:Recipients of the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of Saint Maurice]] [[Category:Battle of Ia Drang]]'