As the sun rose on June 6, 1944, 19-year-old U.S. Army medic Charles Shay was on Omaha Beach, ready to face death and determined to save as many lives as he could. Now at 99 years old, Shay, a Penobscot tribe citizen, continues to honor the memories of those who fought and calls for peace, as the world prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Shay has been living in Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse, France, since 2018, close to the historic shores of Normandy. The solemn ceremonies will pay tribute to the nearly 160,000 Allied troops who landed there, beginning the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany. Shay reflects on the harrowing experience, recalling the chaos of the beach strewn with wounded soldiers and the relentless machine-gun fire.
Despite the horrors, Shay performed his duties with courage, repeatedly braving the waters to bring critically injured soldiers to safety. His valor was recognized with the Silver Star and France’s highest distinction, the Legion of Honor. However, some wounds were beyond his ability to heal, including those of his good friend Pvt. Edward Morozewicz. Shay sadly remembers, “He was bleeding to death. And I knew that he was dying. I tried to comfort him. And I tried to do what I could for him, but there was no help. And while I was treating him, he died in my arms.”
After World War II, Shay reenlisted, driven by the dire circumstances Native Americans faced back home in Maine. His career took him back into war as a medic in Korea, to the U.S. nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, and eventually to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria.
For over six decades, Shay remained silent about his wartime experiences. It was not until 2007 that he began to share his compelling testimony at D-Day commemorations. His narrative will soon be captured in the book “Spirits are guiding” by Marie-Pascale Legrand.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Shay was one of the few veterans who could attend the restricted commemorations. He has also passed on a Native American ritual of burning sage in memory of the fallen to Gulf War veteran Julia Kelly from the Crow tribe. The Charles Shay Memorial on Omaha Beach stands as a testament to the 175 Native Americans who participated in the D-Day landings.
As conflicts continue to rage globally, Shay’s message of peace is as pertinent as ever. “I had hoped D-Day would bring global peace. But it has not, because you see that we go from one war to the next. There will always be wars. People and nations cannot get along with each other,” laments Shay.
Relevant articles:
– On D-Day, 19-year-old medic Charles Shay was ready to give his life, and save as many as he could, AP News
– Charles Norman Shay Collection, loc.gov
– On D-Day, a 19-year-old medic was ready to give his life and save as many as he could, PennLive.com
– On D-Day, 19-year-old medic Charles Shay was ready to give his life, and save as many as he could, AccessWDUN