Charles Shay, a 99-year-old U.S. Army medic and Penobscot tribe citizen, is preparing to take part in the 80th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Shay recalls the harrowing events of D-Day, where he was faced with bleeding soldiers, body parts, and corpses, surrounded by the sounds of machine-gun fire and shells. Despite the chaos, Shay remained focused on his job, diving into the sea repeatedly to rescue critically wounded soldiers and save them from drowning. He was awarded the Silver Star and France’s Legion of Honor for his bravery and dedication on that fateful day.
While Shay was able to save many lives, he couldn’t save his friend Pvt. Edward Morozewicz, who died in Shay’s arms on Omaha Beach. The memory of his friend’s death, along with many others who lost their lives on D-Day, remains vivid for Shay. A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day, with over 5,000 wounded. Shay survived the day and continued his mission in Normandy for several weeks before moving on with American troops to eastern France and Germany. He was taken prisoner in March 1945 but was liberated a few weeks later.
After World War II, Shay reenlisted in the military due to the precarious situation faced by Native Americans in his home state of Maine. He continued to serve in various capacities, including combat medic during the Korean War and working at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Shay kept his WWII experiences hidden for over 60 years but began attending D-Day commemorations in 2007. In recent years, he has shared his testimony at various events and will soon have a book about his life released. In 2018, he moved to Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse in Normandy, where he has been residing.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, Shay attended D-Day commemorations and stood in solidarity with other veterans who couldn’t make the trip due to restrictions. He used to lead a Native American ritual each year on D-Day to honor those who died, but has since handed over the task to Gulf War veteran Julia Kelly. The Charles Shay Memorial on Omaha Beach pays tribute to the 175 Native Americans who landed there on D-Day. Despite his hope that D-Day would bring global peace, Shay laments the continued conflicts and wars happening around the world. He hopes that his message of peace will resonate and inspire others to work towards a more peaceful world.
