A native of Carlisle, Jay Zeamer grew up in Orange, New York and spent many summers in Boothbay Harbor. He attained his bachelor’s and Master’s in engineering from MIT, while also enrolled in the Army ROTC program.
During WWII, Zeamer was a pilot of the air crew known as the “Eager Beavers,” a crew of misfits no one else wanted to fly with. Appropriating a beat-up bomber initially meant to be used for parts, the crew flew this aircraft while fighting off enemy attacks during a voluntary photographic mapping mission over Buka, a Japanese defended land in the Solomon Islands. While photographing the Buka airdrome, Zeamer's crew spotted about 20 enemy fighters on the field. As enemy fire started, Zeamer continued the mapping run, sustaining gunshot wounds in both arms and legs that left one leg broken.
Despite his injuries, he maneuvered the damaged plane to allow his gunners to fend off attack during a 40-minute fight and destroying five enemy planes in the process. For their heroic efforts, Zeamer and his bombardier, Raymond Sarnoski earned the highest US Military Recognition, the Medal of Honor. The rest of the crew received Distinguished Service Crosses. These awards, combined with their eight Purple Hearts, earned the “Eager Beavers” the distinction of being the most highly decorated air crew in American air combat history.
Zeamer ended his military career at the end of World War II as a major in the US Army Air Corps. In total, Zeamer earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Silver Stars, and two Air Medals on top of his Medal of Honor for his service in the South Pacific.
After the war, Zeamer worked at Pratt & Whitney in Hartford before moving on to Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles and then Raytheon Co. in Bedford, Massachusetts.
He retired in 1968 to Boothbay Harbor and passed in 2007 at the age of 88.
Medal of Honor citation:
"On 16 June 1943, Major Zeamer (then Captain) volunteered as pilot of a bomber on an very 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. 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."
Judge Dale F. Shughart was born on July 21, 1913 in South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Boiling Springs High School before earning a degree from Dickinson College.