Did you ever see the movie We Were Soldiers?

There is this tough old soldier of Sam Elliott. Well I was reading about it and learned that he was based on a real person called Basil Plumley. And truthfully the actual man was even more courageous than the film itself.

He had a mad military record before he even went to Vietnam. During WW2 he survived four risky combat parachute jumps (including D-Day) and he was also a veteran of the Korean war. By 1965, then, when he reached the Ia Drang Valley he was an absolute expert in surviving combat.

In the film, he would not carry the new M16 rifle and that was really the case in real life. Those old rifles were then always going out of order due to the dirt and therefore, Plumley did not put his trust in them at all. Instead he took his old heavy pistol. He was well aware that his actual work was not to sneak and shoot a rifle. Since he was one of the best leaders, it was his responsibility to lead the younger troops, offer them more bullets, and ensure that everyone did not panic.

This dreadful night attack was the most wonderful of his moments. The American troops were completely surrounded and were out of ammunition. In a flash a great wave of foe came riding towards them. But Plumley did not even conceal himself. One of the reporters was named Joe Galloway and he was present at the moment and witnessed the entire incident. Plumley simply stood erect, with bullets whistling through him, drew out his pistol, glimpsed at his frightened men and said in a most composed manner, Gentlemen, be ready to protect yourselves.

When they saw him behave in such a composed way, the young guys got the courage to continue fighting. It was General Hal Moore who made the clever plans, but it was Basil Plumley who was surely the hardy soul who kept everybody alive.

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The Last Judicial Hanging in The United States

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Holocaust victim

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