Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero at Lebisey, Remembered

Dec 20 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero at Lebisey, Remembered

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a ridge drenched in chaos and death. The guns didn’t stop roaring. The enemy bore down with relentless fury, and the only path to safety for his comrades lay swallowed in smoke and blood. He made a choice that day: to be the shield—no matter the cost.

The Boy from Yonkers, Forged by Faith

Born February 13, 1921, in Yonkers, New York, Charles was raised in a tight-knit community where duty and faith weren't idle words. A simple Catholic upbringing taught him of sacrifice and service—the virtues that would define his last stand. Before the war, Charles worked as a truck driver, a blue-collar life that bred grit and common sense. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division—an outfit soon baptized by fire across Europe’s cruelest fields.

Glory Road: The Battle That Sealed His Name

June 9, 1944. Just three days after D-Day, the 1st Infantry Division pushed inland from Omaha Beach, aiming to secure the vital foothold in Normandy. At a place named Lébisey, deep in the hedgerow country, enemy forces struck back fiercely.

The battalion found itself pinned, retreat threatened by an enemy counterattack that could shatter their fragile hold. The Germans poured machine-gun fire from a ridge overlooking the swampy valley. DeGlopper’s squad was ordered to fall back—a tactical withdrawal under murderous fire.

But somewhere between panic and order, Charles charged forward alone to cover his men’s retreat. Armed with a single submachine gun, he swept the enemy lines, drawing fire and splitting the enemy’s focus. His voice was lost in the chaos. His death was imminent—but so was his comrades' salvation.

He fought off wave after wave, firing until his gun jammed. With no weapon, he resorted to a rifle butt, fighting every inch with raw courage. The curtain closed when a burst of enemy fire cut him down.

His actions allowed his platoon to withdraw, reorganize, and fight another day.

Valor Etched in Bronze and Ink

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on February 24, 1945, DeGlopper’s citation paints a stark portrait of selflessness:

“He deliberately remained behind, fully aware that his single-handed stand was to cover the withdrawal of his comrades…he delayed the enemy, allowing the battalion to reorganize.”

General Courtney Hodges, who led the First Army, called his sacrifice “the type of courage that inspires and never fades.”

Comrades remembered him as “quiet, unassuming,” but “when the fight came, he stood tall—no orders needed.”

Blood and Legacy

DeGlopper’s death is not just a story of loss, but a beacon—how one man’s stand can ripple through time, shaping the lives of those who come after. The Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial on the ridge at Normandy reminds us that heroism demands no audience.

In the mud and smoke, where men falter, some rise. DeGlopper answered the call with all he had. His sacrifice embodies the brutal calculus of combat: the measure of a warrior is what he gives for others to live.

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

To visit Lébisey today is to walk in sacred ground touched by iron and blood. Stories like Charles’ show us the cost and grace stitched together in every legacy of war. He traded his tomorrow so so many could have one.

And in that truth lies redemption: Not just survival, but purpose in the scars we bear.

Charles N. DeGlopper didn’t die in vain. He died so that freedom could breathe free—but his story demands we remember what freedom costs. Always.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients — World War II (A–F) 2. 1st Infantry Division Association, The Big Red One at Normandy 3. The New York Times, Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero (Feb 24, 1945)