<P> He retired as a command sergeant major on December 31, 1974, having been awarded 28 different personal, unit, campaign and service awards and decorations in almost 33 years of military service, spanning World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War . After his retirement, he worked 15 more years for the army as a civilian in administration at Martin Army Community Hospital and at various medical clinics around Fort Benning (Fort Benning, Georgia), retiring again in 1990 . </P> <P> Plumley was born on January 1, 1920, in Shady Spring, West Virginia, the second son and fifth child of coal miner Clay H. Plumley (September 19, 1879 - 26 February 1952) and his wife Georgia B. Morton (January 19, 1895 - February 16, 1962), both of whom were natives of West Virginia . After two years of high - school, he worked as a chauffeur / driver before enlisting in the US Army on March 31, 1942 . In 1948 / 49, Plumley married Deurice Dillon, who died on May 28, 2012, after 63 years of marriage . Plumley died of cancer after nine days in Columbus Hospice (Columbus, Georgia), on October 10, 2012 . He is survived by his daughter, Debbie Kimble, a granddaughter, and two great - grandchildren . </P> <P> Plumley was a prominent and central figure in the 1992 book We Were Soldiers Once...and Young by Lt. Gen Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway about the Battle of Ia Drang and was portrayed by actor Sam Elliott in the 2002 film adaption . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td> Combat Infantryman Badge (3rd award) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td> Master Parachutist Badge with gold jump star </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td> Glider Badge </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td> Original Air Assault Badge </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td> Vietnam Army Parachutist Badge </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who played the sergeant major in we were soldiers