It is based on the book we were soldiers once and young by lieutenant general ret. Basil plumley, legendary combat vet whose story was told. Plumley, january 1, 1920october 10, 2012 columbus, georgia csm basil l. Plumley january 1, 1920 october 10, 2012 was a career soldier and airborne combat infantryman in the united states army who eventually achieved the rank of command sergeant major.
Plumley as a gruff, tough as nails leader, which seems to match the stories and various accounts from the real men that served with him. Ref whether anything in the film actually happened as the film shows, while we were soldiers is a good watch that makes all us serving types feel great about ourselves, its about as historically accurate as a leni reifenstahl film. Gen hal moore and on which the movie is based, plumley is a central character and is. The book was the basis for the 2002 film we were soldiers. Plumley, a renowned career soldier whose exploits as an army infantryman were portrayed in a book and the movie we were soldiers, has died at 92 an age his friends are amazed that he lived to see. This book was later used to create the 2002 movie we were soldiers where sam elliott played plumley.
Everything seems wonderful for csm plumley who recently passed away from cancer on oct. Based on the bestselling book by correspondent joe galloway and lt. Nov 01, 2012 though longawaited, my first opportunity to meet csm plumley came entirely as a surprise. The sergeant major was known affectionately by his soldiers as old iron jaw. The book became a movie, starring mel gibson as moore. The battle was chronicled in the book we were soldiers once. Sergeant major plumley received wider prestige after the 1992 publication of we were soldiers once. Plumley didnt meet the criteria for wwii and wasnt in. The burial of basil plumley, attended by sam elliot, who portrayed plumley in the movie we were soldiers, plumley retired from being command sergeant major on december 31st, 1974 after being awarded a further 28 awards and decorations for the time in. Moore was a lieutenant colonel in the 1965 battle that led to a book coauthored by moore titled, we were soldiers once, and young. Army troops and north vietnamese regulars in which more than 300 american soldiers lost their lives. General hal moore praised plumley as an outstanding nco and leader in the book we were soldiers onceand young.
Plumley, 92, died wednesday october 10, 2012 at the columbus hospice house, columbus, georgia. He was a heroic figure long before his exploits figured in a book published in 1992, we were soldiers onceand young, and a movie released in 2002, we were soldiers. Csm plumley was on the promotion list published at the conclusion of the third increment and promoted 1968. Plumley born 1920 in west virginia is most famous for his actions as a sergeantmajor of the us armys 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, at the battle of ia drang 1965. The national infantry museum at fort benning, georgia, tweeted a picture of elliot and plumley in noting the veterans death. Command sergeant major basil plumley served in the republic of korea between 1972 and 1973. Basil plumley, legendary combat vet whose story was told in. In november 1965, some 450 men of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, under the command of lt. Tucked between pages 220 and 221 of a dogeared copy of we were soldiers once and young is. General hal moore praised plumley as an outstanding nco and leader in his book we were soldiers once. General hal moore, plumleys commander of the battalion during this battle praised plumley as being an outstanding nco and leader in the book published in 1992 regarding this battle. Csm basil plumley with ltg hal moore we were soldiers once. Basil plumley, we were soldiers army veteran of 3 wars. A great follow up to their book we were soldiers once.
When plumley was interviewed for the we were soldiers. When plumley retired december 31, 1974 on his dd 214 he had 2 cibs listed not three. Nov 01, 2012 the book was the basis for the 2002 film we were soldiers, in which plumley was played by sam elliott. He was portrayed by sam elliott in the film, we were soldiers. Why the army is investigating we were soldiers legend for.
Army on march 31, 1942 as a private, having completed two years of high school. Though longawaited, my first opportunity to meet csm plumley came entirely as a surprise. The commandants choice for 1993 was we were soldiers once. Plumley, a renowned career soldier whose exploits as an army infantryman were portrayed in a book and the movie we were soldiers. Introduction in november 1965, the 7th cavalry regiment of the u.
Oct 27, 2010 ref whether anything in the film actually happened as the film shows, while we were soldiers is a good watch that makes all us serving types feel great about ourselves, its about as historically accurate as a leni reifenstahl film. Aug 20, 2019 plumley was portrayed in the movie we were soldiers by actor sam elliott, based on the 1992 book we were soldiers once. Looking out the narrow prisonlike window of my classroom one beautiful i march day, i saw a great deal of commotion outside. Army investigating we were soldiers legend for inflating awards. I read the plumley biography when moore and plumley received the. The film was directed by randall wallace and stars mel gibson. Marine corps selects one book that he believes is both relevant and timeless. He was portrayed by sam elliott in the film we were soldiers. It is based on the book we were soldiers once and young 1992 by lieutenant general ret.
Tribute to csm basil plumley, remembering alex karras youtube. Plumley 1 january 1920 10 october 2012, united states army. Plumley, whose exploits at the battle of ia drang were told in the book we were soliders once and young. Plumley, a renowned career soldier who fought in world war ii, the korean war and vietnam and whose exploits as an infantryman were portrayed in a book and the movie we were soldiers. Plumley was known affectionately by his soldiers as old iron jaw. Plumley s soldiers affectionately called him old iron jaw.
The book was the basis for the 2002 film we were soldiers, in which plumley was played by actor sam elliott. Joe galloways farewell tribute to csm basil plumley. Plumley was a soldier as well as an airborne combat infantryman in the us army. He is most famous for his actions as sergeant major of the us armys 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, at the battle of ia drang vietnam, 1965. As the film explains, plumley made all 4 combat jumps with the 505th pir during wwii, and another in korea but i was wondering if anyone knew more of what particular.
Joe galloways farewell tribute to csm basil plumley by armchair general. Plumley retired as a command sergeant major on 31 december 1974, after almost 33 years of military service spanning world war ii, the korean war, and the vietnam war. I wonder what was going through custers mind when he realized that hed led his men into a slaughter. The book was moving account of the november 1965 battle of ia drang. The legendary csm basil plumley of we were soldiers fame is currently the subject of an investigation by the us army, after concerns were raised that the late senior nco may have worn awards that he didnt earn plumley who died of cancer at 92 years of age in 2012 was a pivotal character in the vietnam war book we were soldiers onceand young, which surrounded the events of the battle. Hal moore was a legendary combat leader whose leadership principles and rules are explained using personal stories in his book, hal.
General hal moore and sergeant major plumley duration. The award is presented on behalf of all infantrymen past and present. Plumley was 92 years old and a legendary figure among noncoms and soldiers in three wars. Army to keep infantry icons awards unchanged despite. After we were soldiers was released, some claimed that it was a waste to make a film about a war that simply was a waste. Sam elliott pays his respects to true hero behind we were. The vietnam war drama, we were soldiers, tells the story of the battle of. Oct 10, 2012 he was portrayed by sam elliott in the film, we were soldiers. Garry owen csm plumley reflecting on the news of the recent passing of command sergeant plumley, i pulled down my copy of we were soldiers and turned to the index. We were soldiers is a 2002 american war film that dramatizes the battle of ia drang on november 14, 1965. Plumley fought in world war ii, the korean war and vietnam and was awarded a medal for making five parachute jumps into combat.
He was a heroic figure long before his exploits figured in a book published in 1992, we were soldiers onceand young, and a movie released in 2002, we were. That american hero, a veteran of three wars and the consummate nco, took the time to provide some camaraderie and share some wisdom with three wet behind the ears, 5 jump chumps wandering. To this day, there are veterans of the 17 cav who are convinced that god may look like csm plumley, but he is not nearly as tough as the sergeant major on sins small or large. Oct 10, 2012 csm plumley received the doughboy award in 1999.
May 20, 2017 csm basil plumley with ltg hal moore we were soldiers once and young. Oct 11, 2012 the battle was chronicled in the book we were soldiers once. Plumley was portrayed in the movie we were soldiers by actor sam elliott, based on the 1992 book we were soldiers once. To communicate with families, survivors and other members of the 1st cavalry division that served in vietnam. Army investigating we were soldiers legend for inflating. Lieutenant general hal moore, who, as a lieutenant. Hal moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing each year, the commandant of the u. Sad to report the passing of csm basil plumley, 92. The book is better, clearly meant to be more about experiences and emotions than facts. Rip csm basil plumley the american legions burnpit.
We were soldiers deleted scene soldier stories 2002 mel gibson war movie hd the story of the first major battle of the american phase. The doughboy award is presented annually to recognize an individual for outstanding contributions to the united states army infantry. Those of you who have seenread we were soldiers will be familiar with basil plumley, the hard as nails looking sergeant major that enjoyed going about his business with his. This book was named we were soldiers onceand young. May 17, 2016 plumley who died of cancer at 92 years of age in 2012 was a pivotal character in the vietnam war book we were soldiers onceand young, which surrounded the events of the battle of ia drang valley during the vietnam war. Plumley was portrayed by sam elliot in a major film based off the book. We were soldiers deleted scene soldier stories 2002 mel.
We were soldiers once and young told the courageous story of the ia drang valley fight in 1965. Civilian looking to tarnish reputation of famous war hero. He was known affectionately by his soldiers as old iron jaw. The burial of basil plumley, attended by sam elliot, who portrayed plumley in the movie we were soldiers, plumley retired from being command sergeant major on december 31st, 1974 after being awarded a further 28 awards and decorations for the time in the unit, on campaigns and personal service. I was attending the infantry captains career course at the time filming of the movie we were soldiers was taking place at fort benning, ga. In the like named movie, ltc moore was portrayed by none other than mel gibson and csm plumley was played by sam elliott. Basil plumley, retired veteran whose book became we were. Basil plumley, a retired veteran whose units actions in vietnam were turned into a book and then the movie, we were soldiers, has died. Feb 16, 2011 those of you who have seenread we were soldiers will be familiar with basil plumley, the hard as nails looking sergeant major that enjoyed going about his business with his.
The book was the basis for the 2002 film we were soldiers, in which plumley was played by sam elliott. The tribute was written by the csms friend, retired journalist joe galloway, who coauthored. In the 1992 book we were soldiers once and young, cowritten by joe galloway and retired lt. In the book, ltc hal moore describes his cmd sgt major as a tough, disciplined true american hero. Why the army is investigating we were soldiers legend. May 17, 2016 in the 1992 book we were soldiers once and young, cowritten by joe galloway and retired lt. Tribute to csm basil plumley, remembering alex karras. Hal moore vouched for csm plumley when we were working on the books. One of acgs partner publications, vietnam magazine, published a tribute to command sergeant major ret.
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