Basil L. Plumley (January 1, 1920 â October 10, 2012) was a career soldier and airborne combat infantryman in the United States Army who rose to the rank of command sergeant major. As a combat veteran of World War II and the Vietnam War, he is most noted for his actions during the Battle of IaDrang in Vietnam.
Plumley enlisted in the US Army as a private on March 31, 1942. He was a member of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, with which he made four combat jumps and was awarded multiple decorations.Plumley went on to make one combat jump in Korea with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment.He fought in Vietnam with the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. He participated in the Battle of IaDrang in Vietnam in 1965, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, who 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 actor Sam Elliott. Plumley was known affectionately by his soldiers as “Old Iron Jaw”. Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley served in the Republic of Korea between 1972 and 1973.
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