Gary Owen

Here is a man who must not go unnoticed:

Basil L. Plumley was born January 1, 1920 in Shady Spring, West Virginia, the second son and fifth child of coal miner Clay Plumley (b.1879) and his wife Georgia (b.abt.1895), both of West Virginian stock. 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 (1965). General Hal Moore praised Plumley as an outstanding NCO and leader in the book We Were Soldiers Once…And Young. The Sergeant Major was known affectionately by his soldiers as “Old Iron Jaw”.

He enlisted in the US Army on 31 March 1942 as a private. His education on enlistment was 2 years of high school. His civil occupation at the time was listed as semiskilled chauffeur/driver of bus, taxi, truck or tractor. Height and weight is given as 70/154. Plumley is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He made all 4 combat jumps with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division in World War II (Sicily, Salerno, D-Day and Market Garden) and one in Korea with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment. He retired as a Command Sergeant Major on 31 December 1974. After his retirement he worked 15 more years for the Army at Martin Army hospital as a civilian and retired again in 1990.

He currently resides with his wife Deurice in Columbus, Georgia.

He was portrayed by Sam Elliott in the film, We Were Soldiers.

• Combat Infantryman Badge with two silver stars (three awards)
• Master Combat Parachutist Badge with gold star (indicating 5 combat jumps)
• Vietnam 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 one 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
• (Garry Owen shoulder insignias)
• 7th Cavalry Regiment
• 10 Service Stripes.