Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee is a member of the United States Army and a recipient of the United States Armed Forces’ prestigious Medal of Honor. Plumlee earned his award for courageous action during an armed conflict in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, in 2013.
Background
Born into a family of cattle ranchers, Sergeant Plumlee spent his childhood in rural Oklahoma. Early on, he took an interest in military service. While still in high school, Plumlee joined the Army National Guard, with a focus on artillery. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and joined a weapons platoon soon after. He deployed numerous times, serving from Japan to Bahrain and elsewhere. In 2009, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving as a weapons sergeant.
Medal of Honor Citation
Staff Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee distinguished himself by acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty on August 28th, 2013, while serving as a weapons sergeant, C Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in support of Enduring Freedom. Sergeant Plumlee instantly responded to an enemy attack on Forward Operating Base Ghazni—Ghazni Province, Afghanistan —that began with an explosion that tore a 60-foot breach in the base’s perimeter wall. Ten insurgents wearing Afghan National Army uniforms and suicide vests poured through the breach.
Sergeant Plumlee and five others mounted two vehicles and raced toward the explosion. When his vehicle was engaged by enemy fire, Sergeant Plumlee reacted instinctively, using his body to shield the driver prior to exiting the vehicle and engaging an enemy insurgent 15 meters to the vehicle’s right with his pistol. Without cover and in complete disregard for his own safety, he advanced on the enemy, engaging multiple insurgents with only his pistol. Upon reaching cover, he killed two insurgents —one with a grenade and the other by detonating the insurgent’s suicide vest using precision sniper fire. Again, disregarding his own safety, Sergeant Plumlee advanced alone against the enemy, engaging several insurgents at close range, including one whose suicide vest exploded a mere seven meters from his position. Under intense enemy fire, Sergeant Plumlee temporarily withdrew to cover, where he joined up with another soldier and, together, they mounted another counterattack.
Under fierce enemy fire, Sergeant Plumlee again moved from cover and attacked the enemy forces, advancing within seven meters of a previously wounded insurgent who detonated his suicide vest, blowing Sergeant Plumlee back against a nearby wall. Sergeant Plumlee, ignoring his injuries, quickly regained his faculties and reengaged the enemy forces. Intense enemy fire once again forced the two soldiers to temporarily withdraw. Undeterred, Sergeant Plumlee joined a small group of American and Polish soldiers, who moved from cover to once again counterattack the infiltrators. As the force advanced, Sergeant Plumlee engaged an insurgent to his front left. He then swung around and engaged another insurgent who charged the group from the rear. The insurgent detonated his suicide vest, mortally wounding a U.S. soldier. Sergeant Plumlee, again, with complete disregard for his own safety, ran to the wounded soldier, carried him to safety, and rendered first aid. He then methodically cleared the area, remained in a security posture, and continued to scan for any remaining threats. Staff Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Special Forces Regiment, and the United States Army.
Plumlee hopped out, shielding the driver with his own body. He pointed his pistol and fired at the enemy snipers, taking several down and slowing their advancement. Eventually, he killed one of the snipers and ran for cover. Soon after, an attacker detonated a suicide bomb, injuring Plumlee.
Relentlessly, he charged forward, shooting down several of the snipers at close range. Noticing that one of his fellow servicemembers lay bleeding, Plumlee quickly ran back into enemy fire and carried his comrade to safety. Then, he organized a team of three coalition members, and they engaged the enemy until the conflict ended.
Sergeant Plumlee prevented the insurgents from taking over FOB Ghazni and saved countless lives. On December 16, 2021, Preside Joe Biden presented him with a Medal of Honor during a special ceremony at the White House.
How to support the Medal of Honor mission
- Learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at cmohs.org or find them on Instagram |Facebook
- Participate in Medal of Honor Day on March 25 by sharing a recipient’s story
- Support veteran hiring and transition programs in your workplace
- Teach younger generations about the values of courage, sacrifice, and service
Medal of Honor Month isn’t just about recognizing history. It’s about keeping the mission alive for the future. Observe Medal of Honor March on We Are The Mighty here.