FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: CSM Basil A Plumley ~ November 5, 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

CSM Basil A. Plumley

Info from here.

           

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 Army's 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.

Plumley was born on January 1, 1920, in Shady Spring, West Virginia, the second son and fifth child of coal miner Clay Plumley (born 1879) and his wife Georgia (born c. 1895), both of West Virginian stock.[citation needed] After 2 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 9 days in Columbus Hospice (Columbus, Georgia), on October 10, 2012. He is survived by his daughter, Debbie Kimble, a granddaughter, and 2 great-grandchildren.

FReeper SLB posted on Free Republic on October 17, 2012 a thread which contained a link to his funeral.  The thread is at this link.

Awards

 

Combat Infantryman Badge (three awards)

 

Master Combat Parachutist Badge with gold star (indicating 5 combat jumps)

Vietnam Army Basic Parachutist Badge

       
Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and Valor Device

Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters

Air Medal with one silver and three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Army Commendation Medal

Army Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters

Army Good Conduct Medal (6 or 11 awards)

American Defense Service Medal

American Campaign Medal

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and 1 silver and 3 bronze campaign stars (to signify 8 campaigns and 4 combat jumps)

World War II Victory Medal

Army of Occupation Medal

National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Korean Service Medal with Arrowhead device and three campaign stars

Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and three bronze campaign stars

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

French Croix de Guerre (for World War II service) (attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze star)

Belgian Croix de Guerre (for World War II service) (attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze lion)

Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm

 
United Nations Service Medal for Korea

Vietnam Campaign Medal

Republic of Korea War Service Medal

Order of Saint Maurice Primicerius and Doughboy Award

10 Service Stripes, indicating 30–32 years of service

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 

 

[luvie]

Thanks, Galz, for a wonderful story about an amazing hero! All those awards and medals show just how brave he was!...and how much he loved and sacrificed for our country!

[luvie]

Goooood evening, Night Owls!
Hope all of you had a great weekend!
...and are ready to face
the dreaded Monday! ooooo....
I am...sort of. The weekend was sweeeet!
((((hugs))))

[NYTexan]

G'nite Lil' sis!

[Kathy in Alaska]

5th try....

Good evening, mountainlion....

Soon the Spirit of God will be poured over the earth in the largest Revival ever seen.

Yes!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[E.G.C.]

Monday Morning Coffee Bump.

[beachn4fun]

3

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen for today’s activities.
KUDOS and thank you go out to
Plumley
for his service and sacrifice.
We Were Soldiers...
and Young" is one of my favorite war movies.

DC Metroland weather report

~ Today...Some clouds this morning
will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon.
High around 50F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.

~ Tonight...A few passing clouds. Low 29F.
Winds light and variable.

But not for long.
I have to post and run.
A busy Monday ahead with tons to do.

Looks like the east coast is in for a one-two punch.
I hope those already in the trouble areas
have family in another state they can go stay with.

Gonna run.
But please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!

The FR Canteen is

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM ~ DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

ANDRE, HOWARD VINCENT JR
7/8/1969
Laos
KIA - body not recovered

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. The lows were supposed in the low 50s today, but it is 63º at home.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beachy and (((HUGS))).

I’ve got a few chores I need to finish today.

[tomkow6]

 

 

 

 

 Good morning,

EVERYBODY!

GOOD

MORNING

TROOPS!

 

 

SAVE BIG BIRD!

 

 

 
 

 

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Tomkow6.

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach.

How's it going?

[PROCON]

Happylastdaybeforetheelection, Beachie!!

Well, I for one am ready for the election season to be over, our guy must win!

Beautiful weather yesterday, hit 72, Woo-Hoo!

Went to a gun show over the weekend; didn't buy, but window shopping is fun too :-)

OK, need a joe refill...

Have a gorgemongous day!

[luvie]

Goood Monday mornin', Early Birds!
I think I'm nearly awake now!
Just a reminder....
DON'T forget to vote tomorrow!
If you're a Democrat...you vote on the 7th! :D
Everyone have a GREEEEAAAT day!
((((hugs))))
[Sorry I missed you last night BB! (((LBH)))]

[fatima]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOlpdd7y8MI
YouTube Challenge - I Told My Kid I Ate All Their Halloween Candy Again

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How’s it going?

[AZamericonnie]

ROFL!!!

That’s terrible yet funny & sweet! *hugs*

[fatima]

(((((Hugs)))))

[AZamericonnie]

OMGosh!!!!! Is FR finally working again?