[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 205 (Monday, December 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8545-S8546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING CHARLES NORMAN SHAY

  Mr. KING. Mr. President, I stand before you today to remember Charles 
Norman Shay, a Penobscot tribal elder, World War II hero, and loving 
father, grandfather, father-in-law, and uncle. Charles died last week 
at the age of 101, at his home not far from the beaches of Normandy, 
where he saved numerous lives as a 19-year-old medic on D-Day. I had 
the honor of meeting and getting

[[Page S8546]]

to know Charles both at his home on Indian Island in Maine and in 
Normandy at the 75th anniversary of D-Day; he was a world-class 
individual who brought honor to his home State, to his Tribe, to his 
family, and to the people of America. I know he will be missed by his 
many friends and admirers around the country, but especially on Indian 
Island. It is my privilege to share a little bit about him so that we 
may all honor and cherish his memory.
  Charles was one of about 175 Native Americans who were among the 
34,000 Allied troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 
1944. He said that he had been ``given a job'' and that it was ``up to 
[him] to complete [his] job.'' Charles ``did not have time to worry 
about [his] situation of being there and perhaps losing [his] life. 
There was no time for this.'' On that day, Charles saved soldiers from 
drowning at Omaha Beach by turning them on their backs, dragging them 
ashore, and dressing their wounds. He said that ``. . . I don't know 
where my strength came from, but they say once the adrenaline starts 
flowing in your body, you can do unbelievable feats.''
  After D-Day, Charles and his unit--the First Infantry Division, known 
as the Big Red One--participated in the, Battle of Hurtgen Forest and 
the Battle of the Bulge. In March 1945, he and his squadron were 
captured by the Germans near Auel, Germany. He was held as a prisoner 
of war for several weeks at Stalag VI-G, until Americans liberated the 
camp in April 1945, eventually forcing Germany's surrender the 
following month.
  Unfortunately, as a Native American, Charles found few opportunities 
for work and faced outright discrimination when he returned home. 
Despite being a war hero with a Silver Star, Charles was turned away 
when he tried to vote in the fall of 1945, since Maine did not grant 
Native Americans the right to vote in Federal elections until 1954 and 
in State and local elections until 1967. Charles said later, ``Well, 
there was just no chance for young American Indian boys to gain proper 
labor and earn a good job.'' So, he re-enlisted in the Army and was 
stationed in Vienna as a medic with a military police unit. During the 
Korean war, he again saw combat, earning a Bronze Star. Charles retired 
with the rank of master sergeant in 1952.
  While stationed in Vienna in 1950, Charles married Lilli Bellarth, a 
native of the city. They lived in the city for many years, and in 2003, 
they moved back to Indian Island. Charles spent his time promoting the 
culture and history of the Penobscot Tribe and was instrumental in the 
reprinting of his grandfather's book. ``The Life and Traditions of the 
Red Man.'' Charles also successfully lobbied for a Maine law 
designating June 21 as Native American Veterans Day.
  Charles first returned to Omaha Beach in 2007, and from 2018 until 
his passing, he lived nearby with his caretaker, Marie-Pascale Legrand. 
For several years, Charles performed a sage-burning ceremony 
overlooking Omaha Beach to honor the dead. He said he moved to France 
to be close to his fallen brothers, saying, ``I believe that I can talk 
with the souls of the men that are still wandering on the beach here. 
And I just tried to assure them that they are not forgotten.
  Today, a monument honoring Charles sits overlooking Omaha Beach, so 
even though Charles is no longer physically here to speak with the 
souls of his fallen brothers, I know his spirit remains with them, and 
his memory will live on for generations to come. I send my deepest 
condolences to Charles' son and grandson, his family, and the entire 
Penobscot Nation. Maine and the Nation are better because of people 
like Charles and it is our honor to carry on his legacy.

                          ____________________