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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I hate excuses, probably as much as CSM Plumley did. But I am going to drop one here for him (he's in his external repose so non-attribution is in effect..). The US Army Glider Badge (kick ass looking) was retired through authority of Title 32 USC - §578.95 Glider Badge (Retired) / Rescinded in 1963. He was authorized Basic Parachutist wings - all the way to Master Wings. I don't know anything about the old Army regs of wearing multiple special skill badges. So... Since he was airborne qualified and participated in documented airborne/glider assaults, I'll forgive him wearing the parachute v. gider. But the musterd stains are wrong. AND his SS, BSM, and 3 CIBs (he was a cannon-cocker in WW2) don't fly. Not until evidence bubbles up. Photos of him in uniform looked as if he was complying with AR670-1 (unliked LTG Moore). My take (drum roll - a glider/airborne assault on Clothing Sales).
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So the man is known as a legend, and we have some pogue analyzing his uniform Post Mortem? Must be the Stetson! He's down on the Green, with his brothers flipping all of us off!
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Why does it matter at this point? What purpose would an investigation like this serve? let the man rest in peace.
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Suspended Profile
Let's be honest here, our modern day record keeping sucks. Who in their right mind would think that in WW2, Korea, and even Vietnam record keeping was better when it was paper copies.
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Who ever is responsible for publishing this should be dragged out and beaten. True or false makes no matter but tarnish the reputation of the man after his death.
Also; The man was a combat veteran. What need would he have had to lie about his awards? Being one; I doubt he gave a shit about what awards he had, as long as it's sitting on his uniform correctly, there comes a point when you realize it does matter.
Also; The man was a combat veteran. What need would he have had to lie about his awards? Being one; I doubt he gave a shit about what awards he had, as long as it's sitting on his uniform correctly, there comes a point when you realize it does matter.
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My two pennies worth: I take this article with a grain of salt. CSM Basil Plumley is an American Hero and should be treated as such. This calling into question if he is wearing authorized awards is ridiculous. There are guys running around with SF Tabs, Seal Tridents, Ranger Tabs, etc all over the place. There are meme's of that one CSM impersonator, the fat guy at the mall, etc. That is Stolen Valor. I'm assuming that this author's next move I'd to determine if MAJ Dick Winters stole any valo, maybe determine if COL Ralph Puckett is really a Ranger, look at Audie Murphy ' records for fun. CSM Plumbey deserves to rest in peace. Hopefully the author will come to the same conclusion.
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SFC (Join to see)
Maybe next time I will use spell check a little better. Thanks for the up vote COL Sam Russell great post to get some discussion started on a Wednesday
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Because BUPERS and the military as a whole has never screwed up paperwork? I really love the only entitled to wear one silver star. Really? Is that all just one? SLACKER! Oh wait, this coming from a person who didn't serve. Dragging the name of someone who is a war hero, who served this nation in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam through the mud after he has passed and cannot refute the allegations is a cowardly act. The burden of proof is on the accuser. He better be damned sure that what he is touting as fact is actual fact before he tries ruining CSM Plumley's reputation. If he cannot back it up, he may want to think of moving to Canada, just for his own safety.
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When I joined active duty in 2002, I could not fine my DD 214 from Basic Training, neither the Army. I went through hell with IG and HRC to prove my Guard sercice from 94 to 2002. If I and the Army lost my 214 and the Army didn't have record of my service in that time period imagine al the records from WW I to Desert Storm that are unaccounted for with the lack of technology in that time frame. Let the man rest in peace. To the person doing that research, the only reaso you are doing that is because of brave man like him that fought to protect our Constitution and guarantee our future.
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We cant keep records straight now with all of our technology,,no surprise his record could be a little screwed up from the days before computers,photocopies,scanners and fax machines. He was a hero his integrity is being questioned, why????
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