Basil L Plumley was born January 1, 1920. He was a career soldier and airborne combat infantryman in the US Army, reaching the rank of Command Sgt Major. He is most well known for his actions during the Battle of la Drang in Vietnam. He was portrayed by Sam Elliott in the movie “We Were Soldiers” adapted from the book “We Were Soldiers Once… and Young” by Lt Gen Hal Moore and Joseph L Galloway about the Battle of la Drang.
Plumley was born in Shady Spring, West Virginia, the second son and fifth child of coal miner Clay H. Plumley and Georgia B. Morton, 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.
| Name: | Basil L Plumley |
|---|---|
| Race: | White |
| Marital status: | Single, without dependents (Single) |
| Rank: | Private |
| Birth Year: | 1920 |
| Nativity State or Country: | West Virginia |
| Citizenship: | Citizen |
| Residence: | Raleigh, West Virginia |
| Education: | 2 years of high school |
| Civil Occupation: | Semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor |
| Enlistment Date: | 31 Mar 1942 |
| Enlistment Place: | Huntington, West Virginia |
| Service Number: | 35425274 |
| Branch: | Branch Immaterial – Warrant Officers, USA |
| Component: | Selectees (Enlisted Men) |
| Source: | Civil Life |
| Height: | 70 |
| Weight: | 154 |
Beckley, West Virginia / 02 Aug 1942, Sun • Page 4
Although I LOVED watching Sam Elliott’s portrayal of Plumley, I have to say that I am gobsmacked by the ribbons the real man wore on his chest. I will do my best below to note the majority of them and try to not screw up their actual names.
Awards and decorations:
Combat Infantry Badge
Master Parachutist badge (United States) with five Combat Jump Stars
Glider Badge
Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge
Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Purple Heart with three oak leaf clusters
Army Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with bronze award numeral 7
Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster (Republic of Korea and Republic of Vietnam)
Army Good Conduct Medal (8 awards)
American Campaign Medal
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device, one silver and one bronze service stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with silver and three bronze service stars, eight campaign stars
Korea Defense Service Medal with one Arrowhead Device and three campaign stars
Republic of Korea War Service Medal, Order of Saint Maurice
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star (Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm three Awards)
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, Second Class
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge (third award)
French Croix de Guerre 82nd Airborne
Belgian Croix de Guerre 82nd Airborne
Dutch Order of the Orange 82nd Airborne
Doughboy Award 1999
| Name: | Basil L Plumley |
|---|---|
| Date Eligible to Return from Overseas : | 1 Jul 1969 |
| Date Recommended Award Received : | 29 Mar 1969 |
| Date Award Forwarded : | 2 Apr 1969 |
| Service/Country: | U.S. Army |
| Command/Staff: | II Corps |
| Recommended Award: | Air Medal (Achievement) |
| Approved Award: | Air Medal (Achievement) |
| Clusters: | Eight Clusters |
| Location Award Presented: | Award Presented in Republic of Vietnam [South Vietnam] (RVN) |
| Posthumous: | Award presented while Living |
Fort Benning, Muscogee County, Georgia, USA
PLOT SECTION H SITE 672C
Newspaper Clippings And Misc Data On Basil L Plumley:
Beckley, West Virginia / 14 Mar 1943, Sun • Page 6
| Name: | Basil L Plumley |
|---|---|
| Race: | White, includes Mexican (White) |
| Rank: | Enlisted Man |
| Admission Age: | 24 |
| Birth Date: | abt 1920 |
| Admission Date: | Sep 1944 |
| Discharge Date: | Nov 1944 |
| Military Branch: | Field Artillery, General or Unspecified |
| Diagnosis: | FirstLocation: Hand, generally; CausativeAgent: Bullet, Rifle |
| Type of Injury: | Casualty, battle |
| Medical Treatment: | Removal of foreign bodies from others |
| Injured in Line of Duty: | In line of duty |
| Type of Discharge: | Duty |
| Length of Service: | 2 Year(s), 6 Month(s) |
| Service Number: | 35425274 |
Beckley, West Virginia / 31 May 1950, Wed • Page 5
Beckley, West Virginia / 21 Jan 1951, Sun • Page 12
Minneapolis, Minnesota / 24 Oct 1965, Sun • Page 21
Minneapolis, Minnesota / 24 Oct 1965, Sun • Page 23
Chico, California / 16 Nov 1965, Tue • Page 12
Chico, California / 16 Nov 1965, Tue • Page 12
Danville, Pennsylvania / 18 Nov 1965, Thu • Page 1
Beckley, West Virginia / 19 Nov 1965, Fri • Page 1
Alexandria, Louisiana / 26 Jan 1966, Wed • Page 14
Beckley, West Virginia / 17 Jul 1966, Sun • Page 17
Atlanta, Georgia / 13 Jun 1999, Sun • Page 18
St. Joseph, Missouri / 01 Mar 2002, Fri • Page 28
Wichita, Kansas / 05 Jul 2003, Sat • Page 9
Bradenton, Florida / 24 Oct 2003, Fri • Page 35
Lafayette, Indiana / 28 Apr 2005, Thu • Page 24
State College, Pennsylvania / 22 Oct 2005, Sat • Page 6
Atlanta, Georgia / 20 Mar 2009, Fri • Page B5
Miami, Florida / 25 Mar 2009, Wed • Page 17
Columbus, Georgia / 28 May 2010, Fri • Page A5
Columbus, Georgia / 11 Oct 2012, Thu • Page A1
Columbus, Georgia / 11 Oct 2012, Thu • Page A1
Columbus, Georgia / 17 Oct 2012, Wed • Page A1
Lancaster, Pennsylvania / 11 Oct 2012, Thu • Page 16
Columbus, Georgia / 13 Oct 2012, Sat • Page A1
Thoughts and Ponderances 
Outstanding articles about a dedicated human from WV and gave it his all. Thank you for your service from a hillbilly from WV. RIP