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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This is a hard one for the Army. Records have never been the service and VA strengths. I personally experienced this when one container containing my tough box and the carrer counselor tough box was blown up in Iraq, we lost the original and SM copies of my third re-enlistment. Until this day that's the only documents o have not been able to track. I am indefinitely now but the Army can't even produce the scanned copies.
The CSM is death and not able to defend himself we should just live it alone.
The CSM is death and not able to defend himself we should just live it alone.
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Both mu uncles were 101st and I have photos of them wearing awards that do not match there DD214 and let me tell you. I be leave everything they told me what happen they no reason to lie about it from Normandy to Baston to the Eagles nest hell one of my uncles has jump wings and glider wings he would only wear the jump but he did get the glider ones also they both have purple harts not record on there records hell they had to show medical records to get that changed so do a lot of WWII Vets wear medals that are not on there records and did they earn them I would say yes like CPT Waddell says the recording of records was screwed up back then
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No need to tarnish the reputation of a great NCO. This whole situation is in poor taste. Back then there was no iPERMS and internet to record documents. He probably was awarded them but there are little to no record of it. I've had to request corrections for missing documents numerous times to fix my record. And I'm still missing earned awards on my 214.
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Oh come on, let the man rest in peace. Certainly don't count on decades-old, pre-computing records to be accurate.
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Wasn't there a fire in the records branch years ago and a lot of the file of WWII veterans were lost?
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I’m gonna give this hero the benefit of the doubt because what he’s perhaps accused of is still pale in comparison to the valor we know he DID demonstrate under fire.
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Wow imagine that? We all know the army never makes mistakes or loses documentation. Quit being a BF and leave the man alone. I was shot in Iraq and my own unit didn’t have a f…g clue because I was attached to another unit.
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