Earl Don Plumlee

Master Sergeant Earl Don Plumlee, US Army, was born 6 April 1980 in Clinton, Oklahoma, and raised on a ranch in Merritt, near Elk City, Oklahoma.

Upon graduation from high school in 2000, he joined the US Marine Corps as an infantryman and later became a member of the specialized Force Reconnaissance Marines serving multiple tours in Iraq. During his 2008 Iraq tour, he was recognized as the Marine Corps Recon Team Leader of the Year. Having served nine years with the Marines, Plumlee became interested in Special Operations and in 2009 joined the US Army as a Special Forces weapons sergeant and qualified to join the US Army 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). He would later serve missions in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.

One action in Iraq stood above the rest. “Staff Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee distinguished himself by acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty on 28 August 2013, while serving as a weapons sergeant, C Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in support of Enduring Freedom.” The citation continues: “Sergeant Plumlee reacted instinctively…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.” For this action, Plumlee was initially awarded the Silver Star. That award was upgraded to Medal of Honor and presented to him 16 December 2021 by President Biden. Plumlee retired in December 2023 and resides in Florida.

Upon Plumlee’s retirement, Command Sergeant Major Anthony Rowe said, “Earl Plumlee is the living embodiment of a Special Forces Operator. He is highly intelligent, extremely capable, and a master of the human terrain. Behind the war hero image, he is one of the most caring and genuine individuals I’ve ever met.”