Charles Norman Shay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Norman Shay
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Shay on Omaha Beach in October 2018.
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| Born | June 27, 1924 Bristol, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Rank | Master Sergeant |
| Unit | 1st Infantry Division 3rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | Silver Star, Bronze Star (3) |
| Spouse(s) |
Lilli Shay
(died 2013) |
Charles Norman Shay (born June 27, 1924) is a respected elder of the Penobscot tribe. He is also a writer and a highly decorated veteran. He bravely served in both World War II and the Korean War.
Shay has received many important awards for his service. These include the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. He was also given the Legion d'Honneur from France. This made him the first Native American in Maine to receive this special French honor.
Beyond his military service, Shay helped republish a book. It was written by his own grandfather, Joseph Nicolar. The book is called The Life and Traditions of the Red Man and was first published in 1893. Charles Shay has also written his own autobiography. It is titled Project Omaha Beach: The Life and Military Service of a Penobscot Indian Elder. This book shares details about his time serving in the military overseas. Shay is also a direct descendant of Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin.
Contents
Serving in World War II
Charles Shay was called to join the military in 1943. He was 19 years old at the time. He was chosen to train as a medical technician. This meant he learned basic skills to help wounded soldiers.
A Combat Medic's Role
Shay joined the Medical Detachment of the First Division. This division was also known as the "Big Red One." He worked as a medic for Fox Company. As a combat medic, Shay's job was to treat wounded soldiers. He would bandage wounds and apply tourniquets. He also made makeshift splints and tried to make the injured soldiers as comfortable as possible.
D-Day Heroism
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Shay was part of the first wave of soldiers landing on Omaha Beach. The tide was rising, and many wounded soldiers could not move. Shay bravely pulled several struggling soldiers from the water. He saved many injured men from drowning. He also helped fallen soldiers at other major battles. These included the Battles of Aachen, Huertgen Forest, and the Ardennes (known as the Battle of the Bulge).
Becoming a Prisoner of War
Later, Shay was with a group of soldiers exploring a small German village called Auel. They met about 20 German soldiers and a tank. Shay's group was forced to surrender. They were then marched about 50 to 60 miles, only moving at night. They were taken to a prisoner of war (POW) camp called Stalag VI-G. More American soldiers joined the group of prisoners along the way. Shay was questioned at the camp. He was held there until April 12, 1945. On that day, American troops surrounded the camp. They trapped 350,000 enemy soldiers and freed the prisoners. Shay was sent home soon after.
After World War II and the Korean War
After returning home safely, Shay found it hard to find work. This was a common problem for many veterans after the war. So, he decided to join the military again. He was stationed in Vienna, Austria. There, he served as a medic with a Military Police Battalion. While in Vienna, he met Lilli Bollarth. They got married on March 21, 1950.
Service in the Korean War
The Korean War started later that same year. Shay joined the 3rd Division's 7th Infantry Regiment as a medic. He was sent to Japan. A few months later, his regiment went into battle in Korea. He served again as a combat medic. Shay was promoted to master sergeant. He also received the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters for his bravery.
Life in Retirement
Charles and his wife Lilli lived together in Vienna for many years. They would visit Shay's hometown on Indian Island in Maine during the summers. In 2003, Charles and Lilli officially moved to Indian Island. Sadly, Lilli became ill almost immediately and passed away shortly after.
Restoring the "Teepee"
Shay has also worked to restore a special building on Native Island. It is a two-story wooden "Teepee." His aunt, Lucy Nicolar Poolaw, and her husband, Chief Bruce Poolaw, built it. It used to be a novelty shop where Lucy sold her handmade baskets. Shay has now restored the site. It is a small Family Museum.
Penobscot Tribal Elder
Charles Norman Shay is an elder member of the Penobscot tribe of Maine. The Penobscot Nation is also known as the Penawahpskewi. They are a federally recognized tribe. The tribe is part of the Wabanaki group. This group is located in Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Shay lives in the community of the Native American reservation. This is where he spent his childhood on Penobscot Island, across from Old Town, Maine.
In his retirement, Shay played a big role in creating National Native American Veterans Day. In 2021, it was reported that Shay was living in France. He was the only veteran to attend the D-Day commemoration that year.
Project Omaha Beach
In the spring of 2007, Charles Shay planned a trip back to Europe. He went with Harald E. L. Prins and his wife Bunny McBride. They are both from Kansas State University. The goal was for Shay to visit his old battle sites. He wanted to share his experiences there. The group received grants to pay for the trip. These grants came from the Maine Humanities Council and the First Division Museum in Wheaton, Illinois.
Visiting Historic Sites
Prins, McBride, and Shay visited many important places. These included Normandy, Mons, Aachen, Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes, and Auel. The trip was recorded and filmed. This was done to help people understand the experiences of American Indian soldiers in World War II.
The Book and Honors
The book Project Omaha Beach: The Life and Military Service of a Penobscot Native American Elder tells the story of this journey. Shay narrates the trip through letters written to his late wife, Lilli. The book also includes his autobiography. It shares information about organizations Shay is now involved with. The book was published in 2012 by Polar Bear & Company in Solon, Maine.
Soon after returning home, Shay received a great honor. He was personally inducted into the Legion of Honour as a Chevalier. This was done by Nicolas Sarkozy, who was the President of the French Republic at the time. The ceremony took place at the French Embassy in Washington D.C.
A year later, in 2008, Shay received another honor. He was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the 16th Infantry Regiment. This special ceremony was held at Fort Riley, Kansas. This is the home base of the 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One."
In 2009, Shay led the effort to officially establish June 21 as Native American Veterans Day in Maine. Maine was the first state in the U.S. to do this. Eight years later, he was invited to a special ceremony. He helped open a large granite turtle sculpture. This sculpture is at the "Charles Shay Indian Memorial." It is a small park in the sand dunes overlooking Omaha Beach.
