COLUMBUS, GA (AP) -
Command Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley, a retired veteran who participated in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, has died. He was 92.
Plumley's daughter, Debbie Kimble, says he died around 4 a.m. on Wednesday at Columbus Hospice. She says Plumley died a couple weeks after he was diagnosed with colon cancer, but she didn't know any other details.
Plumley served as the sergeant major of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. The actions of the unit in the Battle of la Drang in 1965 were the basis of the book, "We Were Soldiers, and Young," which was written by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore.
The book was eventually turned into a movie, "We Were Soldiers," starring Mel Gibson. Actor Sam Elliott portrayed Plumley in the 2002 movie.
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