CSM Plumley, a veteran of WWII and D-Day, Korea and Vietnam, died October 10th at age 92. He is best known for his leadership during the vicious 1965 Ia Drang Valley fight between two BN's of the Seventh Cavalry and a North Vietnamese Army Regiment. This battle became the basis for the book "We Were Soldiers Once, and Young" by LTC [later LT Gen] Hal Moore and the movie "We Were Soldiers."
The book is arguably the finest first person combat memoir ever written, because LTC Moore kept detailed notes (he basically invented the "After Action Report"), a reporter was with them, and he was able to return to Vietnam and meet with his opponent, who reviewed with him his own battle logs, movement reports and remembrances. The battle convinced the North Vietnamese that they could withstand American firepower, and convinced the Americans they could prevail over much larger forces by applying this firepower. The result was a strategically indecisive stalemate at immense expense to both sides.
Garyowen, CSM Plumley
Halfway down the trail to hell
In a shady meadow green,
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddler's Green.
Marching past, straight through to hell,
The infantry are seen, '
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marine,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Flddlers' Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene,
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen,
And so rides back to drink agaln
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.
And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge or fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green.
The book is arguably the finest first person combat memoir ever written, because LTC Moore kept detailed notes (he basically invented the "After Action Report"), a reporter was with them, and he was able to return to Vietnam and meet with his opponent, who reviewed with him his own battle logs, movement reports and remembrances. The battle convinced the North Vietnamese that they could withstand American firepower, and convinced the Americans they could prevail over much larger forces by applying this firepower. The result was a strategically indecisive stalemate at immense expense to both sides.
Garyowen, CSM Plumley
Halfway down the trail to hell
In a shady meadow green,
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddler's Green.
Marching past, straight through to hell,
The infantry are seen, '
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marine,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Flddlers' Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene,
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen,
And so rides back to drink agaln
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.
And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge or fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green.
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![[halfmast]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/040.gif "Half Mast [halfmast]")
RIP.
