Posted on May 17, 2016
Did CSM Basil Plumley steal valor by wearing unauthorized awards?
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"The U.S. Army is investigating allegations by a military researcher that the late Command Sgt. Major Basil Plumley -- a legend in the airborne and infantry communities -- wore unauthorized combat and valor awards that exaggerated the wartime achievements that made him famous.
"Among the many documents Siddall provides in his research is an Oct. 2, 2015, letter from Army Lt. Col Wil Neubauer, chief of Awards and Decorations Branch, confirming that Plumley was authorized to wear one CIB and states that "we are unable to verify" the Combat Infantry Badge with "one star" listed on Plumley's DD Form 214.
"In that same photo, Plumley wore valor awards he did not earn, Siddall wrote. Plumley wore a Silver Star with a bronze oak leaf cluster, which indicates a second Silver Star. Plumley also wore a Bronze Star with a V device for valor and one bronze oak leaf cluster for two awards.
"The October 2015 letter from the Army states Plumley was authorized only one Silver Star and the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, not two OLCs. The letter also states that Plumley was not authorized to wear the V device with his Bronze Star medals."
Please read the article before commenting.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/05/17/army-investigating-we-were-soldiers-legend-for-inflating-award.html
"Among the many documents Siddall provides in his research is an Oct. 2, 2015, letter from Army Lt. Col Wil Neubauer, chief of Awards and Decorations Branch, confirming that Plumley was authorized to wear one CIB and states that "we are unable to verify" the Combat Infantry Badge with "one star" listed on Plumley's DD Form 214.
"In that same photo, Plumley wore valor awards he did not earn, Siddall wrote. Plumley wore a Silver Star with a bronze oak leaf cluster, which indicates a second Silver Star. Plumley also wore a Bronze Star with a V device for valor and one bronze oak leaf cluster for two awards.
"The October 2015 letter from the Army states Plumley was authorized only one Silver Star and the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, not two OLCs. The letter also states that Plumley was not authorized to wear the V device with his Bronze Star medals."
Please read the article before commenting.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/05/17/army-investigating-we-were-soldiers-legend-for-inflating-award.html
Stolen Valor
Vietnam War
Awards
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 139
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If you are looking for someone with stolen valor who is still alive, why don't we all question our Secretary of State John Kerry and leave great Soldiers like CSM Plumley to rest in peace!!!
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I wrote out some long diatribe on this...then deleted it in favor of a better statement (Seid got it right anyhow): You know what? If I had earned a CIB and a few oak leaf clusters on a Bronze Star-Hell, I'd go put 'em on the man's grave and say, "Here, he can have mine."
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He fought in three wars. And didn't the Army lose a lot of records in a fire some years ago? My dad went through hell trying to get his.!
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COL Sam Russell
He was wearing three CIBs, but only authorized one, and that for Vietnam. His WWII service was as a scout in an Artillery unit, not the Infantry. He never served in the Korean War. If he was wearing a CIB--not to mention one with a star--in the 7th Cav before deploying to Vietnam than his stolen valor dates to his active service. The stunning thing is why a soldier, as decorated as he really was, feel the need to inflate his valor. Here is the official response from HRC's awards branch.
http://images.military.com/media/benefits/pdf/plumley_army_memo.pdf
http://images.military.com/media/benefits/pdf/plumley_army_memo.pdf
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SGT Jerrold Pesz
His daughter came up with a certificate showing that he graduated from jump school with the 82nd Airborne while in Europe. Does not say that he made any jumps but who knows. As for military records I can see how things could be real screwed up in the old days. Even in the sixties record keeping was by hand. When I was our company operations NCO that was one of my jobs. Copies of orders, certificates, diplomas etc. were carried to personnel and put in your permanent file by me. I was very careful to keep up with it but if I had never put something in your file it just wouldn't get there. I can imagine the confusion during WWII.
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I believe there was a fire in 1976 that destroyed most Army personnel records. I know this because I am unable to confirm anything on my Grandfather's WWII military service. So, just a couple of points. 1. He is dead! 2. There is a chance that incompetence and fire make it challenging to confirm the CSM's awards. 3. LTG Hal Moore, in his writings, credits CSM Plumley with awards and recognition few can claim. 4. Before we re-write history, we need to be clear about the facts (which, given that men can claim to be women, Hillary can claim to be honest and 'you can keep your doctor' is a selling point of Obamacare, merely confirms that the truth has become flexible.)
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Capt Tom Brown
COL (Join to see) There was an interesting thread on RP no too long ago about the fire which destroyed much of the records center. Probably still on here somewhere.
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Interesting. However, despite the fact that the Army can not verify his CIB awards, he was in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. If an infantryman in combat, which he no doubt was, that would entitle him to a CIB with two stars as he wears.
As for the other awards, he has passed away. No way to get the story. It's possible they were awarded and the paper was lost. It's possible he was told he was awarded them and the papers were never finalized. That has actually happened a lot, and was much more common in the WWII/Korea era.
Regardless, the man is a hero. Why someone dug into this, I don't know. Three wars and a push to dishonor him? We don't know the full story, and at this point, we never will.
As for the other awards, he has passed away. No way to get the story. It's possible they were awarded and the paper was lost. It's possible he was told he was awarded them and the papers were never finalized. That has actually happened a lot, and was much more common in the WWII/Korea era.
Regardless, the man is a hero. Why someone dug into this, I don't know. Three wars and a push to dishonor him? We don't know the full story, and at this point, we never will.
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There is always going to be someone that wants to prove a point even at the time of death. As a retired SGM, I can tell you there are many, many instances, as stated, where the records were not correct due to the records fire, clerical errors, human error, and well inflating. In this instance, it is not the right way to go about this and eventually nothing will be derived from it. I welcome the researcher to research my records and past military awards, go ahead see what is there and see what is not there. I served in many places in the military. Most will tell you that, like me, if you succeeded in the system you had to take the assignments others stayed away from. My only intentions in my career was to take on the responsibilities to utmost of my abilities, like the rest of you. Bottom Line: Stop trying to ride the credibility train on the shoulders of a dead Soldier, carry your own rucksack, pretty sure he did.
Robert Parsons
SGM, USA
RETIRED
Robert Parsons
SGM, USA
RETIRED
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MSG (Join to see)
dead on in 31 years i have taken many correspondence couses, points towards retirement, on my paper work for points not one, so errors can and do happen, i too am retired, and think this is an agenda, of course you see the f tard pretending, but this guy was'nt and he's now gone, leave the f alone
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A 30 year old DD 214 may have been incorrect? No. Say it isn't so!!! Records keeping back then was horrible. I'm giving the benefit of the doubt to the CSM. Who is this dumb ass researcher anyway and why is he attempting to rewrite history? What next, maybe George Washington never crossed the Potomac.
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Well, I guess we need to pull Hal Moore's records too. Since many officers were given awards for being there. Siddwell talk to Plumley in 2011 and the CSM died in 2012. Brian Siddall, an independent researcher; what does that mean? What credibility does he have. Where can I find his peer-reviewed articles? Give me a source with credibility. Bashing dead vets is the next low life stupidity.
As for Korea, ask Task Force Smith. The brilliance of American piss poor decisions. I would question every officers medal first. I know officers with bronze stars that were in the rear and NCO in the front with ARCOMS. What purpose does rally point serve? Vet bashing?
As for Korea, ask Task Force Smith. The brilliance of American piss poor decisions. I would question every officers medal first. I know officers with bronze stars that were in the rear and NCO in the front with ARCOMS. What purpose does rally point serve? Vet bashing?
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LTC (Join to see)
I dont know Mr. Sidwell and wont go so far as to disparage him. However, I get the feeling there is a self-promotion or an axe to grind. Hope I am wrong.
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I am not defending or accusing this man of anything, but just a thought, My DD-214 does not have all my medals awarded to me and this was in the age of computers. It does not matter to me because the only part I care about is the "Honorable Discharge".
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Capt Tom Brown
SGT William Howell A person deserves what they have earned whether a lot or little. No one should be slighted by the system whether on purpose or accidently and if you still have the awards might consider getting yr DD214 revised to accurately reflect yr service. Yr family and possibly grandkids might appreciate knowing the whole story.
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