Charles DeGlopper D-Day Last Stand and Medal of Honor

Jan 01 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper D-Day Last Stand and Medal of Honor

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a shattered ridge overlooking the Mauldre River, bullets ripping through the mist. His squad was lost behind him, retreating under a storm of enemy fire. With nothing but his BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and unrelenting grit, he laid down a curtain of steel to buy time—knowing full well his fate was sealed.

Blood and Brothers: Early Life and Convictions

Born in 1921, Charles carried the quiet strength of upstate New York farmers deep in his bones. A son of modest means, he grew up with calloused hands and a fierce sense of duty. Faith was more than Sunday ritual; it was the backbone of his courage.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...” (John 3:16) — words likely etched on his heart, fueling a sense of sacrifice far beyond himself. The battlefield was no stranger to faith, and DeGlopper’s resolve was born from that eternal wellspring of hope and redemption.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. D-Day’s chaos spilled inland. The 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division—The Big Red One—pushed toward the strategically vital Mauldre River, west of Normandy.

Enemy fire pinned down DeGlopper's unit. The flank was crumbling; escape routes were swallowed by the relentless German counterattack.

With no orders but instinct, DeGlopper rose and charged enemy machine guns alone. His BAR pounded like thunder across the ravaged fields, providing suppressive fire that stopped the enemy’s advance just long enough for his comrades to withdraw.

Despite being painfully wounded, he kept firing—losing strength but never his fighting spirit. The last witnesses saw him fall under withering fire, hand clutching his weapon—holding the line until the bitter end.

His stand was short, brutal. Yet it saved dozens from death or capture. The cost was ultimate—but the mission, the unit, came first.

Medal of Honor: Valor Etched in History

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on November 1, 1944, DeGlopper’s citation spoke plainly:

“By his intrepid bravery and unflinching devotion to duty under the most harrowing conditions, Sergeant DeGlopper saved his company from destruction at the sacrifice of his own life.”

Generals and brothers-in-arms remembered him not as a legend, but a man who lived the warrior’s code—courage beyond reckoning, humility without waiver.

General Omar Bradley once remarked, “Heroism doesn’t come from thinking about glory, but from doing what is right with no hesitation.” DeGlopper was that unyielding force, the quiet shield in the storm.

Legacy and Eternal Lessons

Charles’ sacrifice became part of the Big Red One’s lore—a stark reminder that salvation often demands blood and bone. His story is stitched into the fabric of every combat veteran’s burden: fight fiercely, protect your brothers, and never—never—leave a man behind.

In the years since, schools, bridges, and memorials bear his name. But the real monument is less visible:

a legacy of selflessness written in the soil of Normandy—an imprint on the soul of a nation shaped by sacrifice.

His last stand whispers across generations: true courage is measured not in seconds of glory, but in moments when the world collapses, and you still stand.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

Charles N. DeGlopper did more than fight a battle; he lit a fire of hope amid horror. His sacrifice remains a solemn covenant—warriors carry the scars of war, but through those scars shines a purpose: defending freedom at any cost, embracing the price so others might live in peace.

In his blood, we find honor. In his loss, redemption. And in his story, an unyielding testament: some men choose to stand alone—so many others might stand free.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Stephen Ambrose, Citizen Soldiers (Simon & Schuster, 1997) 3. 1st Infantry Division Archives, After Action Reports, Normandy Campaign, June 1944 4. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Charles N. DeGlopper Citation