Colonel Norman Wendell Ream, 82, beloved friend, colleague and mentor to hundreds of military medical students, died peacefully at his home in Portsmouth, VA on December 6th, 2016. Dr. Ream set the standard as a military medical officer and was responsible for so many students entering and staying in the Army. He was a father figure to all!
A native of Salida, Colorado, Dr. Ream graduated from Baylor College of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and medical oncology at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital, Chicago, IL. Following his fellowship, Dr. Ream was drafted and began his 32-year career with the U.S. Army Medical Corps. His military assignments included two tours of duty in Viet Nam with the Army's Eighth Field Hospital in 1968-69 and the Heroin Addiction Treatment Program in 1971-72; tours of duty at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX; and Headquarters, U.S. Army Health Service Command at Fort Sam Houston where he was in charge of the Clinical Research Program for all eight Army Medical Centers.
From 1981 to 1995, Dr. Ream was Consultant for Academic Affairs to the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and was, in effect, "physician advisor" to U.S. Army Medical Corps students enrolled in the Health Professional Scholarship Program at various medical schools throughout the country, and the students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Among his numerous military decorations, are the Bronze Star Medal and two Legions of Merit.
In keeping with his expressed wishes, Dr. Ream was cremated. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at 3:00 p.m. Friday May 25, 2018.
Donations in memory of Col. Norman Ream may be made to the Army Medical Department Museum, Fort Sam Houston, TX; or the Walter Reed Society, 8901 Wisconsin Ave., #303, Bethesda, MD 20889. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.