Shapiro Award goes to Plummer
Few people can say they helped create a nationally successful program. And today the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce is honoring a person who did just that.
Michael Plummer helped make the Adopt-A-Platoon program a national program by ensuring its success in Jefferson County.
The idea for the program originated in 1993 by Gen. James Campbell who asked the community to support Fort Drum troops in Somalia. But by September of 1994, Plummer used his presidency of the local Association of the US Army to make the program a true community activity when Fort Drum soldiers were deployed to Haiti.
From that point on Plummer has been a constant advocate of having every platoon at Fort Drum "adopted" by a community group during every deployment.
The program is now being mirrored around the country.
A San Francisco, Calif., native, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and earned a bachelor's degree in general engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He also has a master's degree from the University of Indiana and additional military education at the U.S. Army War College, Armed Forces Staff College, Armored Officers Advanced Course and Signal Officer Basic Course.
He has been a company commander in the 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne divisions. He was chief of staff for the 82nd Airborne and later deputy director of the Army Human Resources Directorate before becoming the first chief of staff for the 10th Mountain Division.
He was then commander of its Second Brigade at Fort Benning, Ga., before being appointed assistant division commander for support for the 10th Mountain Division.
During his career, he received several decorations and awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.
Mr. Plummer is or has been a member of the Watertown Rotary, Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, Fort Drum Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, Jefferson County Crime Stoppers, Jefferson County Historical Society, Jefferson County unit of the American Cancer Society, Italian-American Civic Association and Seaway Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America.
FROM A 1988 STORY ON PLUMMER:
Plummer was one of the original members of the planning cell involved in launching the 10th Mountain Division. He served at Fort Drum from late 1984 until mid-1985, when he assumed command of the division's Second Brigade.
The colonel, known for sending memos written in purple ink, received a colorful'' send-off from Fort Drum in 1985 when a well-orchestrated practical joke turned the colonel's bright red 1968 Camaro into a purple car for a few days before Operation Chameleon'' returned the vehicle to its original color.
Colonel Plummer, a 1960 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, received a master's degree from the University of Indiana and has held such key assignments as chief of staff of the 82nd Airborne Division, deputy director, Human Resources Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, and assistant secretary to the general staff, 8th Army, Korea.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Purple Heart, all with one or more Oak Leaf clusters.
Colonel Plummer and his wife, Miriam, have four children, Lizabeth, Robert, Katherine and Michael.
