Thread: U.S. Army Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley

Basil L. Plumley - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sergeant Major Plumley was one of my heroes. May he rest in eternal peace.
Died at 92 years of age.

Agreed, What a man. I hope we can count on the mold not being broken. We need men like that.

I stand and salute.... Thanks for your example and bravery to us all Top...
Sgt. McSpadden. 82nd Airborne, Ft Bragg, NC

Keep Those Soldiers In Our Memories

Keep those soldiers in our memories
And hold them in our prayers
And show them just how much
They're respected, and how we care

Keep those soldiers in our memories
Treat them kind and true
For they put it all on the line
For the likes of me and you

Keep those soldiers in our memories
Even those that have fallen in the past
And the ones who are still missing
May they all come home at last

Keep those soldiers in our memories
Hold them dear to our heart
For we just never know
When the next war may start

Keep those soldiers in our memories
May all wars come to an end
May they come home to their families
To help broken hearts to mend

by Norman Hale Jr.

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

Rudyard Kipling

Thank You, Hirlau and Wullie. Most appropriate and thoughtful. Tom

Yes, what Tom said.

It hurts as our hero's age and then pass. The older I get, the more real that becomes. I just hope that one day I'll be honored to be considered someones hero. RIP