Nov 06 , 2025
Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero at Normandy Ridge
Flames lit the ridge. Bullets tore through the air like angry hawks. Behind him, the 82nd Airborne was pulling back — but Charles DeGlopper stayed. Alone, he held the line, death closing in from all sides.
A Son of New York, Bound in Honor
Charles Neil DeGlopper was no stranger to hard work or sacrifice. Born July 27, 1921, in Mechanicville, New York, he grew up among factory whistles and worn hands. The son of a machinist, he learned early that grit wasn’t just a virtue—it was survival.
Faith ran deep in DeGlopper’s veins. Though not often recorded in the battlefield lore, those who knew him spoke of a quiet reverence—an unspoken prayer whispered before each mission. His steady, calm presence came from more than training; it was rooted in a code bigger than himself.
In a world ripping apart, Charles carried the values of loyalty, courage, and selflessness. A private in Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, his story would soon become one of the most harrowing testaments to the human spirit in World War II.
The Battle That Defined Him: Normandy, June 9, 1944
The morning after D-Day, the Allied push through Normandy was raw, chaotic, and deadly. The 82nd Airborne moved forward near Saint-Lô, tasked with securing a strategic bridge over the Merderet River.
DeGlopper’s unit was ordered to withdraw under intense enemy fire. The withdrawal was a breaking point—chaos sliding into panic. Retreat turned into rout.
DeGlopper saw what was coming. If his comrades pulled back without covering fire, the Germans would overrun them, slaughtering many. Against the tide of survival, he stayed behind.
Positioned on an exposed ridge, he unleashed a relentless volume of fire. Rifle and grenades—each shot a message drenched in defiance. Through the hailstorm of machine guns and mortars, he pinned down the enemy long enough for his platoon to retreat to safety.
Minutes felt like hours. His cries cut across the noise: to stand, to fight, to protect. Mortally wounded, Charles did not falter.
“He stood alone, withering wave after wave of German attack, allowing others to escape.” — Medal of Honor citation, 1945[1]
His last acts were not for glory — only for his brothers in arms.
Honors Born of Blood and Valor
Charles DeGlopper paid the ultimate price that day, June 9, 1944, near Graignes, France. He was 22 years old.
For his extraordinary heroism, DeGlopper received the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1945.
“Private Charles N. DeGlopper’s gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty serve as a lasting inspiration.” — General Orders No. 21, 1945[2]
Soldiers who fought alongside him remembered a man who was steady under fire, who put their lives first. Sergeant Robert E. Brinkerhoff described him as:
“A true warrior and a brother, who faced death to save us all.”
His sacrifice embodies the raw cost of freedom—where courage meets loss on the jagged lines of war.
Legacy Etched in Blood and Stone
DeGlopper’s grave lies at the Epinal American Cemetery in France but his story marches far beyond.
Buildings, roads, and units bear his name—each a somber monument to his valor. Yet his true legacy is not in stone or medal, but in the quiet power of sacrifice.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
His stand is a timeless echo in the hearts of veterans and civilians alike. It commands respect, reminding all who fight, all who live, what it means to hold the line.
Charles DeGlopper’s blood stained that ridge, but his story cleansed the air—a prayer written in fire and iron for every soul who dares to stand when all others fall.
We carry his courage. We honor his sacrifice. And we remember—there is no greater act than giving your all, that others might live free.
Sources
1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II (G-L)." 2. General Orders No. 21, Headquarters, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 1945.
Related Posts
Ross McGinnis's Grenade Sacrifice Saved Four Comrades in Iraq
Rodney Yano’s Vietnam Sacrifice That Earned the Medal of Honor
Dakota L. Meyer's Medal of Honor Valor in Afghanistan