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'{{short description|United States Army soldier}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}} {{Infobox military person |name= Basil L. Plumley |image= CSM(R) Basil L. Plumley at West Point 10 May 2010.JPG |image_size= |alt= |caption= CSM(R) Basil Plumley at [[United States Military Academy|West Point]], May 10, 2010 |nickname= |birth_date= {{Birth date|1920|01|01}} |birth_place= [[Shady Spring, West Virginia]], United States |death_date= {{Death date and age|2012|10|10|1920|01|01}}<ref name=wtvm/> |death_place= [[Columbus, Georgia]], United States<ref name="Fox 20121011 BP" /> |placeofburial= |allegiance= United States |branch= [[United States Army]] |serviceyears= 1942–1974 |rank= [[Command Sergeant Major (United States)|Command Sergeant Major]] |servicenumber= |unit= [[320th Field Artillery Regiment]], [[82nd Airborne Division]]<br/>[[187th Airborne Infantry Regiment]], [[101st 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]]<br>[[Vietnam War]] * [[Battle of Ia Drang|Ia Drang Valley]] |awards= [[Silver Star]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]]<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]]<br/>[[Purple Heart]] (2) |spouse= Deurice Plumley (c.&nbsp;1949 – d. 2012)<ref name="LC Obit" /> |laterwork= Administrative worker at Martin Army Community Hospital (1975–1990) }} '''Basil L. Plumley''' (January 1, 1920&nbsp;– October 10, 2012) was a career soldier and airborne combat infantryman in the [[United States Army]] who rose to the rank of [[command sergeant major]]. As a [[combat]] veteran of [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]] and the [[Vietnam War]], he is most noted 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 from 1950 through 1953 at [[Fort Campbell]], Kentucky with the [[187th Airborne Infantry Regiment]], [[101st Airborne Division]] where he would go on and serve in the [[Korean War]], making one more combat jump.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basil L. Plumley, revered Army veteran of three wars, dies at 92|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/basil-l-plumley-revered-army-veteran-of-three-wars-dies-at-92/2012/10/11/8afcc77c-13ba-11e2-bf18-a8a596df4bee_story.html|website=washingtonpost.com|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CSM Basil L. Plumley|url=https://militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=3358|website=militaryhallofhonor|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Joseph L. Galloway|title=Farewell to CSM Basil Plumley|url=https://www.historynet.com/farewell-to-csm-basil-plumley.htm|website=historynet.com|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref> After the Korean War, Plumley then went on to serve in [[Germany]]. 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 [[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. --> [[Command Sergeant Major]] Basil Plumley served in the [[Republic of Korea]] between 1972 and 1973. He retired as a 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]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], retiring again in 1990.<ref name="Died92">{{cite news |title=Plumley, veteran of 3 wars, dies at age 92 |url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/11/basil-plumley-army-veteran-of-three-wars-dies-at-92/ |work=CNN |date=11 October 2012|publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</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 Elliott]] in the 2002 [[We Were Soldiers|film adaption]]. ==Awards and decorations== There have been disputes about the medals and decorations Plumley was entitled to wear and allegations by Brian Siddall in 2015 that Plumley wore unauthorized combat and valor awards that exaggerated his wartime achievements.<ref name="mil1">Matthew Cox: [https://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/05/17/army-investigating-we-were-soldiers-legend-for-inflating-award.html Army Investigating 'We Were Soldiers' Legend for Inflating Awards], Military.com, 2018</ref><ref name="med1">Brian Siddall: [http://www.airborneinnormandy.com/plumley_all.htm The Original Plumley Article], Airborne In Normandy, 2015</ref><ref name="med2">[http://www.military.com/sites/default/files/media/benefits/pdf/2016/05/plumley_army_memo.pdf Army HR Memo about Awards and Decorations for CSM Plumley], Department of the Army, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch, 2015</ref> The resolving of the dispute is hampered by the death of Plumley HOLA YOU IS SUCH BIG NERD HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU ARE SO DUMB AND RETARDED three years prior to the allegations and the personnel records of the army, that are not uncommon to be in error, especially during war times and prior to electronic files. {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%; width: 75%; text-align: center;" |- ! align="middle" colspan="5" | '''Comparison of Awards and Decorations of CSM Plumley''' |- | width="20%" align="left"|'''name of award''' || width="10%"|'''listed on his DD 214 in 1974''' <ref name="med2" /> || width="10%"|'''worn in 2010 at West Point <ref>[[:File:CSM(R) Basil L. Plumley at West Point 10 May 2010.JPG]]</ref>''' || width="10%"|'''verifiable by memo of the Army 2015''' <ref name="med2" /> || width="20%"|'''notes''' |- | align="left" |[[Combat Infantryman Badge]] || [[File:CIB2.png|100px]]<br /><small>(2nd award,<br />one star on top)</small> || [[File:CIB3.gif|100px]]<br /><small>(3rd award,<br />two stars on top)</small> || [[File:CombatInfantry.png|100px]]<br /><small>(1st award,<br />no star on top)</small> ||WW2 - Korea - Vietnam would be a CIB with 2 Stars.<br /> |- | align="left"|[[Silver Star|Silver Star Medal]] with bronze [[oak leaf cluster|Oak Leaf Cluster]] || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(one oak leaf)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(one oak leaf)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(no oak leaf)</small> || |- | align="left"|[[Legion of Merit]] || {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}} || matching |- | align="left"|[[Bronze Star Medal]] with [["V" Device]] and bronze Oak Leaf Cluster || {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>("V" Device, two oak leaf)</small> || {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>("V" Device, one oak leaf)</small> || {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(no "V" Device, one oak leaf)</small> || |- | align="left"|[[Air Medal]] with [[Award numerals|numeral device]] or Oak Leaf Cluster || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -40px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 7.png|18px]]</span><br /><small>(with numeral "7")</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=8|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(eight oak leaf)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -40px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 7.png|18px]]</span><br /><small>(with numeral "7")</small> || |- | align="left"|[[Army Commendation Medal]] || {{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(three oak leaf)</small> || {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(no oak leaf)</small> || {{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(three oak leaf)</small> || |- | align="left"| [[Purple Heart]] with one Oak Leaf Cluster || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=60}} || matching |- | align="left"| [[Army Good Conduct Medal]] with [[Good conduct loop|good conduct loops]] || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_Good_Conduct_Ribbon.jpg|width=60}}<br /><small>(silver clasp and three loops = 8 awards)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_Good_Conduct_Ribbon.jpg|width=60}}<br /><small>(silver clasp and one loop = 6 awards)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_Good_Conduct_Ribbon.jpg|width=60}}<br /><small>(silver clasp and three loops = 8 awards)</small> || |- | align="left"| [[American Defense Service Medal]] || n/a || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || n/a || only available for service between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941 |- | align="left"| [[American Campaign Medal]] || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || matching |- | align="left" | [[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with [[Arrowhead device]], silver and bronze [[Service Star|campaign stars]] || {{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(arrowhead, 1 silver star, 1 bronze star)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=7|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(arrowhead, 1 silver star, 2 bronze stars)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(arrowhead, 1 silver star, 1 bronze star)</small> || |- | align="left"| [[World War II Victory Medal]] || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || matching |- | align="left"| [[Army of Occupation Medal]] with "Germany" [[Medal bar|clasp]] || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=60}} || matching |- | align="left"| [[National Defense Service Medal]] with bronze [[service star]] or bronze Oak Leave Cluster || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(bronze star)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(bronze oak leaf)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(bronze star)</small> || |- | align="left"| [[Vietnam Service Medal]] with one silver and three bronze campaign stars || {{Ribbon devices|number=8|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(1 silver star, 3 bronze stars)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(3 bronze stars)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=8|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(1 silver star, 3 bronze stars)</small> || |- | align="left"| [[Korea Defense Service Medal]] || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || not worn || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || awarded since February 2004 (retroactive to July 28, 1954) |- | align="left"| [[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} || matching |- | align="left"| [[Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)|French Croix de Guerre]] (for [[World War II]] service) || unclear || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Ruban de la croix de guerre 1939-1945.PNG|width=60}} || unclear || noted in the memo is [[Fourragère#France|"French Fourragère"]] |- | align="left"| [[Belgian Croix de Guerre]] (for World War II service) || unclear || [[File:BEL Croix de Guerre 1944 ribbon.svg|60px]] || unclear || noted in the memo is [[Fourragère#Belgian_fourragère|"Belgian Fourragère"]] |- | align="left"| [[Vietnam Cross of Gallantry]] with Gold Star || {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -38px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:1 golden star.svg|15px]]</span> || {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -38px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:1 golden star.svg|15px]]</span> || {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -38px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:1 golden star.svg|15px]]</span> || matching |- | align="left"| [[Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal]], second class || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg|width=60}} || not worn || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg|width=60}} || |- | align="left"| [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] with "1960–" device || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}} || {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}} || matching |- | align="left"| [[Master Parachutist Badge]] || [[File:US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif|60px]] || [[File:US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif|60px]] || [[File:US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif|60px]] || matching |- | align="left"| [[Glider Badge]] || [[File:USAAF - Glider Pilot 4.png|80px]] || not worn || [[File:USAAF - Glider Pilot 4.png|80px]] || A Glider Badge is for Life<br /> |- | align="left"| Netherlands [[Orange Lanyard]] || no picture || not worn || no picture || |- | align="left"| || || || || |- | align="left"| Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge with palm device (= Republic of Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge) || [[File:ViPaBa.jpg|100px]]<span style="position:relative; top: -6px; left: -60px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:WikiProject Scouting BSA Eagle Bronze Palm.svg|20px]]</span> || [[File:ViPaBa.jpg|100px]]<span style="position:relative; top: -6px; left: -60px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:WikiProject Scouting BSA Eagle Bronze Palm.svg|20px]]</span> || [[File:ViPaBa.jpg|100px]]<span style="position:relative; top: -6px; left: -60px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:WikiProject Scouting BSA Eagle Bronze Palm.svg|20px]]</span> || matching |- | align="left"| [[Vietnam Gallantry Cross|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm]] || [[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|60px]] || [[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|60px]] || [[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|60px]] || matching |- | align="left"| [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Army Presidential Unit Citation]] with bronze Oak Leaf Clusters || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(1 oak leaf)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(2 oak leaf)</small> || {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=60}}<br /><small>(1 oak leaf)</small> || |- | align="left"| [[Civil Actions Medal|Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal]] unit citation first class || [[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|60px]] || not worn || [[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|60px]] || |} ==Awards and decorations (Army memo from 2015)== {| |[[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|120px]] |[[Combat Infantryman Badge]] |- |[[File:Master Parachutist badge (United States).svg|80px]] |[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Master Parachutist Badge]] |- |[[File:USAAF - Glider Pilot 4.png|80px]] |[[Glider Badge]] |- |[[File:ViPaBa.jpg|100px]]<span style="position:relative; top: -6px; left: -60px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:WikiProject Scouting BSA Eagle Bronze Palm.svg|20px]]</span> |Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge |} {| |[[File:Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg|60px]] |[[Silver Star]] |- |[[File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|60px]] |[[Legion of Merit]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Bronze Star Medal]] with one bronze [[oak leaf cluster]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Purple Heart]] with oak leaf cluster |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -37px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 7.png|14px]]</span> |[[Air Medal]] with bronze [[award numeral]] 7 |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top:0; left:-48px; display:inline-block; width:0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top:0; left:-36px; display:inline-block; width:0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top:0; left:-24px; display:inline-block; width:0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span> |[[Commendation Medal|Army Commendation Medal]] with three oak leaf clusters |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|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 oak leaf cluster |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -57px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Gcl-08.png|54px]]</span> |[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Army Good Conduct Medal]] (8 awards) |- |[[File:American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|60px]] |[[American Campaign Medal]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top:0; left:-48px; display:inline-block; width:0;">[[File:Arrowhead device.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top:0; left:-36px; display:inline-block; width:0;">[[File:Silver-service-star-3d.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top:0; left:-25px; display:inline-block; width:0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span> |[[European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with [[Arrowhead device]], one silver and one bronze [[service star]]s |- |{{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]] with "Germany" [[Medal bar|clasp]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[National Defense Service Medal]] with service star |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -52px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Silver-service-star-3d.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -41px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -30px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -19px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span> |[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with silver and three bronze service stars |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |[[Korea Defense Service Medal]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -38px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:1 golden star.svg|16px]]</span> |[[Gallantry Cross (South Vietnam)|Vietnam Gallantry Cross]] with Gold Star |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg|width=60}} |[[Armed Forces Honor Medal|Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal]], Second Class |- |[[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|60px]] |[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]] |- |[[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|60px]] |[[Civil Actions Medal|Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation]] |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}} |[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] |} *CSM Plumley also received 3 [[fourragère]]s: World War II War Cross from France and Belgium as well as the Orange Lanyard from The Netherlands. ==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 |access-date=October 10, 2012|location=Columbus, GA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013011328/http://www.wtvm.com/story/19785743/2012/10/10/retired-csm-basil-plumley-dies-fort-benning-mourns-lossM |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *<ref name="Fox 20121011 BP">{{cite news|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/|work=Fox News|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=11 October 2012|date=10 October 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:United States Army personnel of World War II]] [[Category:United States Army 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]] [[Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War]] [[Category:People from Raleigh County, West Virginia]] [[Category:Military personnel from West Virginia]]'