# Earl Plumlee

Earl D. Plumlee (born April 6, 1980) is a retired master sergeant in the United States Army. He was presented the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan that took place on 28 August 2013 and presented to him by President Joe Biden on December 16, 2021; awarded the same day, posthumously, were Alwyn Cashe and Christopher Celiz.

## Medal of Honor action

On August 28, 2013, Plumlee served as a weapons sergeant assigned to Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, when the complex was attacked. Plumlee instantly responded to a massive explosion that caused a 60-foot breach in the base's perimeter wall. Ten insurgents wearing Afghan National Army uniforms and suicide vests poured through the breach.
Plumlee and five other special operations soldiers, including Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Busic and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark Colbert, intent on defending the base, mounted two vehicles and raced toward the detonation site. Plumlee's driver purposefully maneuvered the vehicle into enemy fire to shield three dismounted teammates, two of whom were injured, placing the vehicle under effective enemy fire from the front and right side.
Using his body to shield the driver from enemy fire, Plumlee exited the vehicle while simultaneously drawing his pistol and engaging an insurgent 15 meters to the vehicle's right. Without cover and with complete disregard for his safety, he advanced toward the enemy force, engaging multiple insurgents with only his pistol. Upon reaching cover, he killed two insurgents.
Plumlee left cover and continued to advance alone. Moving forward, he engaged several combatants at close range. Under intense enemy fire, Plumlee temporarily withdrew to cover, where he joined another soldier.
Plumlee, despite being wounded by a detonating suicide vest, quickly regained his bearings and reengaged the enemy. Intense enemy fire once again forced the two soldiers to temporarily withdraw. Undeterred and resolute, Plumlee joined a small group of American and coalition soldiers moving from cover to counterattack the infiltrators. As the coalition forces advanced, Plumlee engaged an insurgent to his front-left.
Plumlee then ran to mortally wounded Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis (who died while shielding Polish Army Lieutenant Karol Cierpica), carried him to safety, and rendered first aid. Afterwards, he organized three coalition members in a defensive stance as he methodically cleared the area, remained in a security posture and continued to scan for any remaining threats.

## Awards and decorations
### Medal of Honor

Citation:

### Silver Star

Citation:
   The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Earl D. Plumlee, United States Army, for gallantry in action in August 2013, while serving with Operation Detachment Alpha 1434 (ODA-1434), 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. Sergeant First Class Plumlee distinguished himself when a vehicle-borne IED initiated an attack on Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan, followed by the attack of nine insurgents armed with small arms, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades and suicide vests. During the attack, Sergeant First Class Plumlee repeatedly engaged the enemy at close range, was wounded by a detonating suicide vest, risked his life to bring another Soldier to safety and provide first aid, all while continually putting himself in the line of fire in order to prevent the assault from penetrating the perimeter of the FOB. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

### Commendations

U.S. military decorations :
| | Medal of Honor (Upgraded from the Silver Star) |
| | Bronze Star |
| | Purple Heart |
| | Meritorious Service Medal |
| | Army Achievement Medal |
| | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 1 5/16-inch star |
| | Combat Action Ribbon |
| | Army Good Conduct Medal (5 awards) |
| | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal |
| U.S. Unit Awards ||
| | Meritorious Unit Commendation with 1 bronze Oak leaf cluster |
| | Navy Unit Commendation with 1 bronze Service star |
| | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation |
| U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons ||
| | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with 1 Service star |
| | National Defense Service Medal |
| | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star |
| | Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 bronze Campaign stars |
| | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| | Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device |
| | NCO Professional Development Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4 |
| | Army Service Ribbon |
| | Army Overseas Service Ribbon |
| | Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 Campaign stars |
| | NATO Medal for ex-Yugoslavia |
Other accoutrements :
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Expert Infantryman Badge
* Basic Parachutist Badge with 1st Special Forces Group background trimming
* Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
* Marine Corps Combatant Diver Insignia
* Honduran Parachutist Badge
* Special Forces Tab
* 1st Special Forces Command Combat Service Identification Badge
* United States Army Special Forces Distinctive Unit Insignia
* 5 Overseas Service Bars
* 7 Service stripes

## Later life

In October 2024, Plumlee joined 15 other Medal of Honor recipients in publicly endorsing Donald Trump for president.