France

Charles Shay, Penobscot Nation WWII Veteran and⁣ D-Day Landing Survivor, Dies at 99

NORMANDY, France – Charles Shay, a Penobscot Nation ​veteran who stormed the beaches of Normandy​ on D-Day and became a powerful voice for peace in his later years, has died at ‌the age of 99. Shay passed away ⁣peacefully in France, where he had lived‌ since 1994, according to the American Association of Indian Affairs.

Shay’s death marks ⁣the‌ loss of a vital link to a pivotal moment in ⁣history and a poignant ‍reminder ‌of the​ contributions of Native Americans to the Allied war effort – contributions often ‌overlooked.He was among the first wave of soldiers ⁢to land on omaha​ Beach on June 6, 1944, serving as a medic with the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division. His story highlights⁢ the past irony of ‌Native american ‌soldiers fighting​ for freedoms denied ⁣to their communities back home, where they were not granted full citizenship​ and faced restrictions, including limitations on their right⁤ to vote until 1954.

Born in 1924, Shay enlisted in the Army ​at 19, motivated‌ by a⁤ desire to defend freedom. Following WWII, ⁢he ⁢continued ⁣to serve his country during the Korean War, also as⁢ a medic. He ⁤later participated‌ in U.S.nuclear testing in the marshall ⁤Islands and worked at the International⁣ Atomic Energy Agency in​ Vienna,Austria. For ⁣over six⁣ decades, Shay remained ‍silent about ⁤his wartime experiences, beginning to⁣ share his⁢ story onyl in 2007 when he⁤ started attending D-Day⁤ commemorations.

In⁤ recent years, Shay became a dedicated advocate for ⁣peace,‍ using his platform to ‌deliver powerful testimony about the‍ horrors of war. He performed ⁤a sage-burning ⁤ceremony ⁤for‍ decades ⁤on a bluff overlooking Omaha ​Beach,⁢ honoring the fallen, and ​in​ June 2022, he passed that duty to Julia Kelly, a Gulf War veteran from the‌ Crow tribe. ⁢The transfer‌ occurred just months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of ‍Ukraine, a development that ⁣deeply saddened Shay.

“Ukraine is a very sad situation. I feel⁢ sorry for the people there and I⁣ don’t ‍know why this war had to ‍come,” he said in 2022.”In 1944, I⁣ landed on ‍these ​beaches and we thought we’d bring peace to the world. But⁢ it’s not possible.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shay’s solitary⁢ presence at commemoration ceremonies ​symbolized the sacrifices made by Allied forces when ⁢travel restrictions prevented families and fellow veterans from attending. ⁢His legacy will continue to inspire‍ generations to strive ⁤for a world free from ‍conflict.