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 brave veteran. He served in both World War II and the Korean War. Charles Shay received many important awards for his service. These include the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. He also earned the Legion d'Honneur from France. This made him the first Native American in Maine to receive this special French award.
Shay helped to republish a book written by his own grandfather, Joseph Nicolar. The book is called The Life and Traditions of the Red Man and was first printed in 1893. Charles Shay has also written his own book. It is an autobiography called 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. Charles Shay is also a direct descendant of Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin. He turned 100 years old on June 27, 2024.
Contents
World War II Service
Charles Shay joined the military in 1943 when he was 19 years old. He was chosen to train as a medical technician. This meant he learned basic skills to help wounded soldiers. Shay became a medic for the 16th Infantry Regiment. This unit was part of the First Division, also known as the "Big Red One."
Medic on D-Day
As a combat medic, Shay's job was to treat injured soldiers. He would bandage wounds and apply tourniquets. He also made makeshift splints and gave medicine to ease pain. On D-Day, during the first wave of landings on Omaha Beach, he saved many lives. He pulled several struggling soldiers from the rising ocean tide. Many wounded soldiers could not move and would have drowned without his help. Shay also helped fallen soldiers in other major battles. These included the Battles of Aachen, Huertgen Forest, and the Ardennes (known as the Battle of the Bulge).
Prisoner of War
Later in the war, Shay was with a group moving into a small German village called Auel. They met about 20 German soldiers and a powerful 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 Korea
After returning home safely, Charles Shay found it hard to find a job. Many veterans faced this problem after the war. So, he joined the military again. He was stationed in Vienna, Austria. There, he worked as a medic with a Military Police Battalion. While in Vienna, he met a woman named Lilli Bollarth. They got married on March 21, 1950.
Korean War Service
When the Korean War started later that year, Shay joined the 7th Infantry Regiment. This unit was part of the 3rd Division. 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.
Retirement Life
Charles Shay and his wife Lilli lived together in Vienna for many years. They would visit Shay's original hometown on Indian Island in Maine during the summers. In 2003, Charles and Lilli officially moved to Indian Island. Sadly, Lilli became ill almost right away and passed away shortly after.
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 as a novelty shop. They used it to sell Lucy's handmade baskets. Shay has fixed up the site and turned it into a small Family Museum.
He 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 lives in Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Until 2018, Shay lived in the Native American reservation community. This is where he spent his childhood on Penobscot Island, across from Old Town, Maine. In his retirement, Shay played a big part in creating National Native American Veterans Day.
In 2018, Shay moved to France. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, he was one of the few veterans who could attend special events. He stood for all the others who could not travel due to restrictions.
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 and share his experiences. They received money for the trip from the Maine Humanities Council and the First Division Museum.
Journey and Book
Prins, McBride, and Shay visited many places. These included Normandy, Mons, Aachen, Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes, and Auel. The trip was filmed and documented. This was done to record the experiences of American Indian soldiers in World War II. In his book, Project Omaha Beach: The Life and Military Service of a Penobscot Native American Elder, Shay tells about the journey. He writes it as letters to his late wife, Lilli. The book also includes his autobiography. It was published in 2012 by Polar Bear & Company.
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. The ceremony took place at the French Embassy in Washington DC.
Honors and Memorials
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 famous "Big Red One." In 2009, he led the effort to make June 21 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 event. 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.
