Eli E. Plumley

PRIVATE ELI EARL PLUMLEY, JR., was born in 1925 to Eli Earl and Helen Plumley.  He had grown up in Haddonfield NJ, where the family lived at 330 Homestead Avenue. His father was an executive with the Union Central Life Insurance Company at 708 Market Street in Camden NJ, and was a veteran of World War I.

On December 13, 1942 Eli Earl Plumley Sr. and Jr. went to the family�s summer cottage in Erial NJ to chop firewood. The elder Plumley, then 47 years old, suffered a fatal heart attack. Eli Earl Plumley Jr., known as Topper to his friends, completed his studies at Haddonfield Memorial High School, graduating in 1943. While at Haddonfield High he was a member of the backfield of the school football team. The family moved to 432 Maple Avenue in Collingswood NJ after the death of the elder Plumley.

 Eli Earl Plumley Jr. joined the Army right after graduation from Haddonfield High, in June of 1943. He trained with the 347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division, and went overseas in October of 1944. The 87th went into combat on December 8th taking Fort Driant. Private Plumley was seriously wounded shortly after the division went into combat, and died of his wounds on December 19, 1944.