Charles Shay, Decorated Native American D-Day Veteran and Medic, Dies at 101 in Normandy
Decorated Native American D-Day veteran Charles Shay, a medic who saved lives, passed away at 101 in Normandy, France.
CBS NewsCharles Shay, D-Day veteran who saved lives on Omaha Beach as a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic, dies at 101
Military TimesD-Day veteran who saved lives on Omaha Beach, dies at 101 in Normandy
Associated PressD-Day veteran Charles Shay, who saved lives on Omaha Beach, dies at 101 in France
Overview
Charles Shay, a decorated Native American D-Day veteran and medic from the Penobscot tribe, passed away at 101 on Wednesday at his home in Bretteville-L’Orgueilleuse, Normandy, France.
Shay earned the Silver Star for heroically rescuing wounded soldiers during the D-Day landings and received France's Legion of Honor in 2007 for his valor.
After WWII, Shay reenlisted due to the severe poverty and discrimination faced by Native Americans in Maine, where they were prohibited from voting until 1954.
Living near the D-Day landing site since 2018, Shay was the sole attendee at France's COVID-19 commemoration ceremonies, representing veterans unable to travel.
On June 6, 2022, Shay passed the remembrance task to Julia Kelly, a Native American Gulf War veteran, continuing the legacy of honoring those who served.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story of Charles Shay's passing as a respectful obituary, focusing on his heroic actions during D-Day, his Native American heritage, and his later reflections on war and peace. They present factual details of his life and service without employing loaded language or selective emphasis, allowing his story to speak for itself.