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<p><em>Michael Thomas Plummer</em>, the son of a soldier who fought in Burma during World War II, was born on May 11, 1938. He reported to West Point on the morning of July 3, 1956. After taps, that first day of Beast Barracks, he told this classmate he was “staying for 30…the Army will have to kick me out.” And he did. Along the way, he became a legend—as a classmate, as an Infantry officer, as a retired officer caring for the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division, and as a community leader revered throughout Watertown, NY and Fort Drum, NY.</p>
<p>At West Point, Mike ran for the Army Cross Country and Track Team. Ever the inspiration, he was among the top of the class in physical fitness throughout four years. He gained friends throughout the Corps. Never an unkind word. Fun loving, yet earnest at the same time. In the fall of First Class year, he rallied the entire Corps of Cadets for a memorable, but unauthorized, after-taps football rally, for which he paid a big penalty without a whimper. By then, he was “Iron Mike” among his companymates, and he surprised many by selecting Signal Corps upon graduation. Following Airborne and Ranger training, his first assignment was as a Signal platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division. Iron Mike soon realized his true calling and branch transferred to Infantry.</p>
<p>Mike did it all. He volunteered for Vietnam in 1963 for a year as an advisor and returned to the 101st Airborne Division in 1964, assigned to the 327th Airborne Infantry. In 1965, this battalion deployed to Vietnam, where he earned two Purple Hearts while commanding a rifle company. He remained in Vietnam for an additional year to be aide-de-camp to the commanding general of U.S. Army-Vietnam. Mike returned to West Point as an instructor in the PE Department. The year 1972 found him in Korea for his fourth year deployed overseas and then to Fort Bragg, NC, where Lieutenant Colonel Mike Plummer commanded the 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne Infantry. He had become Iron Mike Plummer far beyond his cadet company.</p>
<p>Mike reported to the Pentagon in 1977 as a personnel staff officer in DCSPER. Upon promotion to colonel in 1980, he returned to Fort Bragg to be chief of staff of the 82d Airborne Division. From there, he returned to DCSPER, where he became prominent in all aspects of personnel, leadership and organizational effectiveness. </p>
<p>In 1984, Mike’s classmate, Bill Carpenter, was promoted to major general and selected to reactivate the famous 10th Mountain Division. This further involved constructing a division size post out of a training camp in the cold north woods of New York. Carpenter took Mike with him to be division chief of staff. Paraphrasing Mike’s words: “Training the thousands of new soldiers in the bitter cold weather developed junior leaders who cared for the soldiers…it built high levels of trust at the small unit level.” In his two years as chief, Colonel Plummer also developed a community relations program with neighboring Watertown that became a model for the Army.</p>
<p>Colonel Mike Plummer served with the 10th Mountain Division for six years. Following his two years as chief of staff, and two years commanding the 2d Brigade, he became the assistant division commander for support during his 30th year—a colonel in a brigadier general position. However, with the growing tension in the Middle East, the Army did not kick him out at 30—they asked for more. As chief of staff again for one more year, he retired from active duty in 1991. </p>
<p>By then, Mike Plummer had become a very prominent man in Watertown. He bought a house downtown and named it “Journey’s End.” He became an independent consultant for strategic planning, leadership assessment and organizational development, and gained many contracts over the years with military and government agencies, as well as with civilian businesses and organizations. He concurrently worked on behalf of the soldiers at Fort Drum in many ways, including creating the “Adopt-a-Platoon” program so that each deploying platoon had a sponsor from the community. In 2006 he received the Association of the U.S. Army’s National Biddle Medal for community service. In 2012 he was honored in the New York State Senate for all he did for Watertown and Jefferson County. Over the years, he also devoted much time and influence in the construction of monuments throughout Fort Drum and Watertown, honoring the history and great soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division. Retired from active duty, he became even more active in tireless service to soldiers (accomplishments far beyond getting the credit). Mike’s love of soldiers was the underlying foundation for all his many successes. He also gained a new name, “The Mountain Man.”</p>
<p>So much can be said about Colonel “Iron Mike” Plummer, but his son Robert said it best in his eulogy, eloquently describing his father around three words: “Honor…he was a man of honor. Humility…he often said you can get so much more accomplished when it does not matter who gets the credit. And, lastly, Soldier…the one word that describes him the best.” Robert characterized his father and grandfather as “soldiers hardened by their experience” and talked about how Iron Mike’s spirit “had touched so many lives, both in uniform and out.” </p>
<p>Upon retirement in 1991, Mike had received the Distinguished Service Medal, the Army’s highest award for meritorious service…to add to three Legion of Merits, multiple Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts, and many other decorations. Mike Plummer would most likely say his greatest award is being revered by his family, his classmates, and so many soldiers and friends. </p>
<p><em>— Charles Baker, Company F-1</em> </p>
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