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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The man was Airborne infantry and served in 3 wars; I give him the honor he deserves. I agree with the other comments, paperwork mistakes are not uncommon and I believe a man that served so honorably for so many years deserves not to have his integrity disparaged.
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Served in WWII. Served in Korea. Served in Vietnam. One two three CIB awards. So far as I know even when he was in 7th Cav he was an 11B.
Sounds like the Siddall guy is not as good a researcher as he thinks.
Sounds like the Siddall guy is not as good a researcher as he thinks.
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I remember that there was a big fire that destroyed many records, late 60's if i remember correctly. Benefit of the doubt certainly called for.
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Brian Siddall is a douche bag, he waits until the CSM is dead to do stupid crap like this? Anyone with a ounce of grey matter knows orders get lost, admin can sometimes forget to update PQR's and things fall between the cracks. CSM Plumbley more than paid the price and if he were alive and a little younger he would break his foot off up Siddalls ass.
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There are plenty of military "posers" for the stolen valor guys to go after. Many of them are panhandlers trying to score money for drinks or other " illicit activities". Any investigator that wants to besmirch CSM Plumley's reputation, needs to have a "behind the barracks" counseling session...Great men didn't do what they did for the medals and ribbons...they do it for their country.
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CSM Plumley has passed away and now there are those that want to correct his record?, why not do that when he was alive. I'm all for correct history but we live in a time of Sanitized History. Keeping Military Records straight is not easy. take a look at ERB's and see how correct they are. Need to start somewhere but not in the past.
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Not one of these people would have stepped up to him while he was alive, this is small and weasel like to even suggest such a thing. This surely comes from some desk jockey who never saw combat or is frustrated for not being the heroes they wish to be seen as...something stinks and it is usually an ego which stinks the most.
R.I.P. CSM Plumley, We warriors hold you in the highest regards!
Everyone else simply needs to stand down.
Steady on
R.I.P. CSM Plumley, We warriors hold you in the highest regards!
Everyone else simply needs to stand down.
Steady on
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Lets see now the Siddall character questions a mans record for having in three wars that He served in Combat as an infantryman for having earned a CIB in each of those three wars. I wasn't Army but I thought that an infantry man the served in combat was qualified. Siddall seems in many places to say exactly the opposite on several subjects. Was the Siddall character even a Veteran ? His father was but it sure sounds like He wasn't. What is His problem ? I've never been too impressed by some of the Army record keeping anyway and they seem to be pretty good a losing things according to many people that have served in the Army and not to pick on just the Army, many large organizations some times have trouble keeping track of things. When I went in the Air Force My recruiter told Me any paper they give You keep it, You may need it later to prove things. He was right, I have had to use that paperwork from time to time. Never had anything that couldn't be resolved but You never know.
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First time reading this and it makes me sick! Though a year old posting, shame that this misinformation is still on here to read... I don’t believe it for a minute!
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I think the main thing is the number of combat jump stars on his wings. He wasn't in Korea so he couldn't possibly have a combat jump there. Same thing for the 3rd award CIB. And if he wasn't in Korea, he couldn't possibly have 3 CIB's. He's one helluvaguy, no doubt at all, but no Korean Service Medal on his rack should have been a big red flag even before he retired.
But realistically some people are too legendary to fail it seems. Had a DI School instructor (all gunnies) at PISC in 72 who prided himself on doing 20+ pull-ups. Used to show off all the time. Trouble was this was back in the old days when it was dead hang - NO kipping pull-ups. He'd kip all the way through then monitor students doing dead hang. No one dared call him on it. Perhaps the same thing applied with Plumley. Just a theory.
But realistically some people are too legendary to fail it seems. Had a DI School instructor (all gunnies) at PISC in 72 who prided himself on doing 20+ pull-ups. Used to show off all the time. Trouble was this was back in the old days when it was dead hang - NO kipping pull-ups. He'd kip all the way through then monitor students doing dead hang. No one dared call him on it. Perhaps the same thing applied with Plumley. Just a theory.
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