Charles Norman Shay, WWII Hero and Penobscot Elder, Dies at 101

Charles Norman Shay, a decorated Indigenous war hero and Penobscot tribal elder, has died at the age of 101. Shay served as a U.S. Army combat medic in World War II. During the D-Day landings in 1944, the 19-year-old soldier repeatedly braved enemy fire to rescue wounded comrades on Omaha Beach. His actions earned him the Silver Star, a major award for valor. He later served in the Korean War, where he received the Bronze Star for meritorious service. Shay was a member of the Penobscot Nation, a Native American tribe from Maine. In later years, he became a respected elder and a symbol of the often-overlooked contributions of Indigenous people to the U.S. military.