World War II Honoree

Jay Zeamer, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Machias, Florida

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. MAJOR IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS. PLACE AND DATE: OVER BUKA AREA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, JUNE 16, 1943. ENTERED SERVICE AT: MACHIAS, MAINE. BIRTH: CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA. GO NUMBER 1, JANUARY 4, 1944. CITATION: 'ON JUNE 16, 1943 MAJOR ZEAMER (THEN CAPTAIN) VOLUNTEERED AS PILOT OF A BOMBER ON AN IMPORTANT PHOTOGRAPHIC MAPPING MISSION COVERING THE FORMIDABLY DEFENDED AREA IN THE VICINITY OF BUKA, SOLOMON ISLANDS. WHILE PHOTOGRAPHING THE BUKA AIRDROME HIS CREW OBSERVED ABOUT 20 ENEMY FIGHTERS ON THE FIELD, MANY OF THEM TAKING OFF. DESPITE THE CERTAINTY OF A DANGEROUS ATTACK BY THIS STRONG FORCE, MAJOR ZEAMER PROCEEDED WITH HIS MAPPING RUN, EVEN AFTER THE ENEMY ATTACK BEGAN. IN THE ENSUING ENGAGEMENT, MAJOR ZEAMER SUSTAINED GUNSHOT WOUNDS IN BOTH ARMS AND LEGS, 1 LEG BEING BROKEN. DESPITE HIS INJURIES HE MANEUVERED THE DAMAGED PLANE SO SKILLFULLY THAT HIS GUNNERS WERE ABLE TO FIGHT OFF THE ENEMY DURING A RUNNING FIGHT WHICH LASTED 40 MINUTES. THE CREW DESTROYED AT LEAST 5 HOSTILE PLANES, OF WHICH MAJOR ZEAMER HIMSELF SHOT DOWN 1. ALTHOUGH WEAK FROM LOSS OF BLOOD, HE REFUSED MEDICAL AID UNTIL THE ENEMY HAD BROKEN COMBAT. HE THEN TURNED OVER THE CONTROLS BUT CONTINUED TO EXERCISE COMMAND DESPITE LAPSES INTO UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND DIRECTED THE FLIGHT TO A BASE 580 MILES AWAY. IN THIS VOLUNTARY ACTION, MAJOR ZEAMER, WITH SUPERB SKILL, RESOLUTION AND COURAGE, ACCOMPLISHED A MISSION OF GREAT VALUE.'