Career
A veteran of World World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, he is most famous for his actions during the Battle of Iowa Drang in Vietnam. Plumley enlisted in the United States Army as a private on March 31, 1942. He saw action during the Italian Campaign, the Invasion of Normandy, and Operation Market Garden, making a total of four combat jumps.
He was awarded multiple decorations for his service in World World War World War II Plumley went on to fight in the Korean War and make one more combat jump there with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment.
He fought in Vietnam with the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. He participated in the Battle of Iowa Drang 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".
He retired as a command sergeant major on December 31, 1974, having been awarded 28 different personal, unit, campaign and service awards and decorations (40 total) in almost 33 years of military service, spanning World World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
After his retirement, he worked 15 more years for the army as a civilian in administration at Martin Army Community Hospital and at various medical clinics around Fort Benning (Fort Benning, Georgia), retiring again in 1990. Plumley was a prominent and central figure in the 1992 book We Were Soldiers Once..And Young by Lieutenant General Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway about the Battle of Iowa Drang and was portrayed by actor Sam Elliot in the 2002 film adaption.