CSM Basil Plumley was one of Americas greatest soldiers, having fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was universally respected by his men and his experience in the Ia Drang Valley in 1965 in the first pitched battle of Vietnam was told in the book We Were Soldiers Once And Young. Alex Karras was one of the great football players of his generation for the Detroit Lions and he went on to star in movies including a memorable role in Blazing Saddles, and television in the series Webster. Basil L. Plumley (January 1, 1920 -- October 10, 2012[1]) was a United States Army command sergeant major. He is most famous for his actions as a Sergeant-Major of the US Armys 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, at the Battle of Ia Drang (Vietnam, 1965). General Hal Moore 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 Sam Elliott. He was known affectionately by his soldiers as Old Iron Jaw. Plumley enlisted in the US Army on March 31, 1942, as a private. Plumley was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He was a member of the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, with which he made 4 combat jumps and was awarded medals (see medal list below). He confirms this during interviews conducted with author Phil Nordyke, who has written 4 books relating to the 82nd Airborne Division in WWII. He went on to make one combat jump in Korea with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment. He retired as a Command Sergeant Major on December 31, 1974, having been awarded 28 different medals (40 total) in almost 33 years of service. After his retirement, he worked 15 more years for the Army as a civilian in administration at Martin Army Community Hospital (Fort Benning, Georgia), retiring again in 1990.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 23:18:41 +0000
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