Reamer E. Sewell, Jr., a former POW in World War II, died October 20th, at the Baltimore VA Medical Center on Greene Street from heart failure. Known as Buzz by all his friends, he was 85 and had lived in Severna Park since 1960. He retired from Eastern Airlines as a ticket agent in 1979 after a 24-year career.

Born in Wilkinsburg, PA, and a graduate of Allegheny High School in Cumberland, MD, Buzz attended the University of Maryland in College Park and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1942 and attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He served in the European Theater of Operation during World War II as the lead navigator/bombardier on a B-26 Martin Marauder, nicknamed Angel Puss. On October 12, 1944, on his 15th mission, he earned the Silver Star for his perseverance in executing a third and successful bombing run over a heavily guarded tank assembly and repair depot near Saarbrucken, Germany. Only 4 out of 20 bombers were able to reach the target area. The others were either shot down or could not penetrate the German flak field. To make up for the 16 missing planes, he led the others around three times to make sure the target was hit. After the bombing run, their plane was severely damaged by flak, and the crew was forced to bail out. After parachuting from the plane, he landed in trees breaking his left ankle and was immediately captured by the 119th SS Panzer "Ghost" Division. After one week of solitary confinement and interrogation, he was moved to Stalag Luft III until January 27, 1945, when he and the other POWs were evacuated to Stammlager VII-A. They were liberated by General Patton's Army on April 29, 1945. During his time as a POW, he kept a secret diary that he hid from the Germans in his sock.

His interests were aviation, Egyptian art, and a good road trip.

He is survived by his wife, the former Ruth Marie Dubbert of Severna Park; three children, Anne Wirth Sewell of Crownsville, MD, Thomas Chambers Sewell of Strongsville, OH, and Douglas Edward Sewell of Severna Park, MD; and two granddaughters, Jennifer Lyn Kopkas of Twinsburg, OH, and Melinda Marie Sewell of Strongsville, OH.

A Military Service with Full Honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.

Family and Friends may meet at Arlington's Administration Building on December 5, 2006 at 10:30am.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the MAPS Air Museum for Restoration of the B-26 Martin Marauder:

http://www.mapsairmuseum.org/membershipapp.htm