Jay Zeamer Jr. (1918-2007) a pilot of the United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific and the Medal of Honor recipient. Zeamer died in a nursing home at age 88. Citation: “On 16 June 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 one 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 one.
