Senator Collins’ Statement on the Passing of Charles Norman Shay

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement on the passing of Charles Norman Shay, a decorated World War II and Korean War veteran and member of the Penobscot Nation, at the age of 101:

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Charles Norman Shay, a remarkable hero who made countless sacrifices to protect our country during World War II and the

Korean War. A proud member of the Penobscot Nation and a graduate of Old Town High School, Charles embodied the very best of our state.

“I had the privilege of meeting Charles on several occasions, including in Normandy during the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Meeting Charles, I was struck by his humility and the profound sense of duty to his fellow soldiers that guided him throughout his service.

“Maine and our nation have lost an extraordinary patriot. I send my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, the Penobscot Nation, and all who were inspired by his remarkable life. We will forever honor his service, his sacrifice, and his unwavering devotion to his fellow veterans and our country.”

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As a 19-year-old Army medic, Private Shay was assigned to an assault battalion in the first wave of attack at the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. For his valor on the battlefield, having rescued drowning and wounded comrades under enemy fire, he received the Silver Star. After additional frontline duty in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine, he was captured in the Sieg Valley. Spending nearly a month in German prison camps, Shay was liberated on April 18. In 1945, after World War II had ended, he was awarded four bronze battle stars and demobilized.

Shay went on to serve as a medic in the Korean War, where he received the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters for Valor and was nominated for a second Silver Star. Six months after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Shay joined the Air Force Reserve in February 1952. In the summer of 1964, after more than twenty years in the U.S. military, Master Sergeant Shay retired and, a year later, obtained a position with the International Atomic Energy Agency, where he worked for 20 years.

In his later years, Charles dedicated himself to ensuring that the courageous stories of Native American veterans were told. The Charles Shay Indian Memorial overlooking Omaha Beach in France stands as a lasting tribute to his life and to all the Native American soldiers who served our country with distinction in World War II.