A true hero, Basil Plumley, passes away

**tbm3fan** · 11 Oct 12,, 22:55

First thing I saw. Go in peace...

Basil Plumley, Army veteran of 3 wars, dies at 92 – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs

**Chogy** · 11 Oct 12,, 23:54

God Bless Sir... NCO's like him won the wars for the USA in the past, not the officers.

Salute! And a toast.

**dave lukins** · 12 Oct 12,, 12:02

A hero is no braver than an ordinary brave soldier, he is brave just five minutes longer.

RIP Sarn't Major

**Albany Rifles** · 12 Oct 12,, 15:07

Best line in the movie WWSOAY....

CSM Plumley to LTC Moore..."Sir, Custer was a pussy!"

Perfectly cast with Sam Elliot.

I am sure CSM Plumley is buying the rounds at the Fiddler's Green as we speak of him.

**Minskaya** · 13 Oct 12,, 06:21

His Army awards included the Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster and the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster.

I doff my beret and salute you Sir. May you rest in Blessed Peace.

**Officer of Engineers** · 13 Oct 12,, 16:37

Present Arms. God Bless, CSM.

Originally Posted by Minskaya

I doff my beret and salute you Sir. May you rest in Blessed Peace.

Captain, never call a NCM, Sir. You're using a title they reserve for Officers, often times spelling it c-u-r.

**Minskaya** · 13 Oct 12,, 19:28

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

Captain, never call a NCM, Sir. You're using a title they reserve for Officers, often times spelling it c-u-r.

In my world Colonel, he well earned the honorific...

Combat Infantryman Badge (three awards)
Master Combat Parachutist Badge with gold star (indicating 5 combat jumps)
Vietnam Army Basic Parachutist Badge
Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and Valor Device
Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with one silver and three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal (6 or 11 awards)
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and 1 silver and 3 bronze campaign stars (to signify 8 campaigns and 4 combat jumps)
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Korean Service Medal with Arrowhead device and three campaign stars
Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and three bronze campaign stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
French Croix de Guerre (for World War II service) (attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze star)
Belgian Croix de Guerre (for World War II service) (attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze lion)
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Order of Saint Maurice Primicerius and Doughboy Award
10 Service Stripes, indicating 30–32 years of service

**Officer of Engineers** · 13 Oct 12,, 20:14

Officers, step away from the Captain. I do believe the CSM is about to unleash a shit storm of lightning bolts.

**Doktor** · 13 Oct 12,, 20:29

**bigross86** · 13 Oct 12,, 20:36

Rest in peace

**Parihaka** · 13 Oct 12,, 22:30

Originally Posted by Doktor

The CSM would regard being called sir (implying he was an officer) as a demotion. RIP, and ignore the captain, being an officer she knoweth not what she does.

**Doktor** · 13 Oct 12,, 23:07

Pari,

Over here, as much as I know (being a civie), the address goes with Sir/Madam for those with higher rank then you, by rank only or by Sir/madam followed with the rank, so it was confusing.

Thanks for explanation.

**Officer of Engineers** · 14 Oct 12,, 03:36

Originally Posted by Doktor

Pari,

Over here, as much as I know (being a civie), the address goes with Sir/Madam for those with higher rank then you, by rank only or by Sir/madam followed with the rank, so it was confusing.

Thanks for explanation.

It's a practice unique to the Americans. Commonwealth armies will have subordinates addressing Sgts-Majs or above as "Sir." But Officers should never address NCMs as Sir.

Having read about CSM Plumley, he spells sir as C-U-R and no one will ever call him a cur ... not if he doesn't want to see his own lungs.

**Albany Rifles** · 14 Oct 12,, 19:27

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

It's a practice unique to the Americans. Commonwealth armies will have subordinates addressing Sgts-Majs or above as "Sir." But Officers should never address NCMs as Sir.

Having read about CSM Plumley, he spells sir as C-U-R and no one will ever call him a cur ... not if he doesn't want to see his own lungs.

Colonel, he may have made an exception for Hal Moore...but few others.

Captain, what our mentor from the Great White North is trying to say the custom in our Army is to never call a noncommissioned officer sir... We call them sergeant, staff sergeant, platoon sergeant/gunnery sergeant, first sergeant/master sergeant, or sergeant major.

It is their due as the backbone of our Army and Marines...to call him Sir would imply he was a lowly commissioned officer...no greater insult to an NCO!

We know you meant no disrespect...and CSM Plumley would have recognized that.

And it doesn't matter male or female....those NCOs worked damned hard to get those stripes and rockers!

**junoth1001** · 18 Oct 12,, 11:57

Originally Posted by Albany Rifles

Colonel, he may have made an exception for Hal Moore...but few others.

Captain, what our mentor from the Great White North is trying to say the custom in our Army is to never call a noncommissioned officer sir... We call them sergeant, staff sergeant, platoon sergeant/gunnery sergeant, first sergeant/master sergeant, or sergeant major.

The reason why British forces address Warrant Officers 'Sir' stems from the days of Charles the first, when there used to be a rank called Sargent Major General, which was of General officer status and whose duties were similar to the modern day RSM.

In addition, Warrant Officers are "Warranted" by the Monarch and receive a a 'Royal Warrant'.

Furthermore, in everyday langauge, for centuries, it was polite to address others as 'Sir', even if they were your inferiors. Again Monarchs would do the same.