la Drang, RVN hero near death

[wchandler]

CSM Basil Plumley, age 92, is near death in hospice care in Columbus,Ga. CSM Plumley was a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He was played by actor Sam Elliot in the movie, We Were Soldiers (2002). CSM Plumley is a MOH recipient and is most known for the epic battle fought at la Drang in 1965. He was 15 when he enlisted in WWII and was raised in KY. If you have never seen the movie, watch it. If you want to know a real American hero, read about CSM Plumley. He will be fiddlin' on the green soon.

[Doug Edwards]

Thanks for posting this.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

As a Viet Nam Veteran I can appreciate what he has done for our country.

He is a true " no nonsense" American Hero!

I prayed for him and I pray for ALL of our American Servicemen & women each and every day!

I will mourn his passing.

[wchandler]

CSM Basil Plumley has passed on. His funeral will be Monday at Ft. Benning. Archangel Michael has a new Top Sgt - one that Satan will regret seeing on the battlefield.

[Pete Campbell]

I'm sure he will be Hell On Wheels in his next life!

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

A Soldiers Lament: A Poem Worth Reading

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Joe has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

If you are proud of our Veterans, then send this to them. You'll be glad you did!

To all our soldiers…Thank you for your service!
End Quote:

{This was posted in.....Armed Services Mutual Benefit Association STAR Foundation (www.asmbastarfoundation.com) military charity network. LDEC is an IRS tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) serving disabled veterans in their immediate area.}

[wchandler]

thanks, Frank. I'll keep that one.