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Walk Among Heroes Podcast: Episode 8 - Charles Shay (D-Day Veteran)
We are honored to welcome Mr. Charles Shay, D-Day hero, as our guest for Episode 8.
Mr. Shay, born in 1924 as a member of the Penobscot Indian Tribe, grew up on the Penobscot Reservation in Maine. As a teenager, Mr. Shay was required to register for the draft, but at the time, his tribe had no voting rights in the United States (they could fight for our country, but weren’t allowed to vote and weren’t considered citizens of the U.S.). He was the second-youngest of four boys. All four Shay boys served in the U.S. military during World War II. Two of his brothers served in the U.S. Navy, one in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the Air Force), and Charles was drafted into the U.S. Army. He entered military service in Fort Devens, Massachusetts, completed Basic Training at Camp Pickett, Virginia, and following Basic Training, he was selected to become a medic. With no previous medical experience, he was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana for his medical training, where he was assigned as a surgical technician. After medical training, he was given a few days leave, then he reported to New York, where he boarded the Queen Elizabeth and sailed to England.
Charles was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), 16th Regiment, where he landed on Omaha Beach, D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Easy Red Sector, near the German fighting position known as WN 62, the heaviest fortified position along Omaha Beach. Facing relentless fire, Charles witnessed the death of hundreds of his brothers that day. He utilized the German obstacles to avoid German fire and eventually made it to the shingle/sea wall, a natural sand embankment, which Charles used as a barrier to treat wounded soldiers. As he was treating wounded soldiers, Charles looked toward the sea and saw many wounded men laying on the beach, unable to move. As the tide rose, they were being washed out to sea and were drowning. Charles immediately ran back into the water and began dragging the wounded men to safety, one at a time. He worked himself into a state of exhaustion, but continued to save as many men as possible, pulling them up to the high-water mark.
Our interview details Charles’ actions on D-Day, as well as his childhood, life, military service, and career after the military. He also discusses his incredible legacy as member of the Penobscot tribe. This interview is very powerful on many levels.
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By Jeff Wells
4.9
5252 ratings
We are honored to welcome Mr. Charles Shay, D-Day hero, as our guest for Episode 8.
Mr. Shay, born in 1924 as a member of the Penobscot Indian Tribe, grew up on the Penobscot Reservation in Maine. As a teenager, Mr. Shay was required to register for the draft, but at the time, his tribe had no voting rights in the United States (they could fight for our country, but weren’t allowed to vote and weren’t considered citizens of the U.S.). He was the second-youngest of four boys. All four Shay boys served in the U.S. military during World War II. Two of his brothers served in the U.S. Navy, one in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the Air Force), and Charles was drafted into the U.S. Army. He entered military service in Fort Devens, Massachusetts, completed Basic Training at Camp Pickett, Virginia, and following Basic Training, he was selected to become a medic. With no previous medical experience, he was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana for his medical training, where he was assigned as a surgical technician. After medical training, he was given a few days leave, then he reported to New York, where he boarded the Queen Elizabeth and sailed to England.
Charles was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), 16th Regiment, where he landed on Omaha Beach, D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Easy Red Sector, near the German fighting position known as WN 62, the heaviest fortified position along Omaha Beach. Facing relentless fire, Charles witnessed the death of hundreds of his brothers that day. He utilized the German obstacles to avoid German fire and eventually made it to the shingle/sea wall, a natural sand embankment, which Charles used as a barrier to treat wounded soldiers. As he was treating wounded soldiers, Charles looked toward the sea and saw many wounded men laying on the beach, unable to move. As the tide rose, they were being washed out to sea and were drowning. Charles immediately ran back into the water and began dragging the wounded men to safety, one at a time. He worked himself into a state of exhaustion, but continued to save as many men as possible, pulling them up to the high-water mark.
Our interview details Charles’ actions on D-Day, as well as his childhood, life, military service, and career after the military. He also discusses his incredible legacy as member of the Penobscot tribe. This interview is very powerful on many levels.