Command Sgt. Maj. Basil L. Plumley, who served in the Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, died today at Columbus Hospice. He was 92.

Plumley of Columbus was also a veteran of World War II and the Korean War during a career that spanned 32 years. After retiring from the Army in 1974, he was employed at Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning for another 15 years.

In Vietnam, he served as the sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment which was commanded by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore. Moore was a lieutenant colonel in the 1965 battle that led to a book co-authored by Moore titled, "We Were Soldiers Once, and Young."

The book became a movie, starring Mel Gibson as Moore. Plumley's role was played by Sam Elliott.