Jan 28 , 2026
Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero Who Saved Comrades
The earth shook with the roar of guns. The line was breaking—men falling, pulling back like blood being drained from a wound. But there, standing alone, was Charles DeGlopper, refusing to let the enemy swallow his brothers whole.
The Boy From Schroon Lake
Charles Neil DeGlopper grew up in the quiet mountains of upstate New York, a son of hard work and steady faith. Born in 1921, his childhood was the kind that forged grit before war called him away—farm chores, simple prayers, a fierce loyalty to family and country. He carried a solemn code, a belief that some things were worth giving everything for.
Known for humility as much as his strength, DeGlopper was no braggart. He enlisted with the 82nd Airborne Division, the “All America” division, a brotherhood built on trust under fire. His faith ran deep, often whispered in the darkest places, a lantern in a hellscape.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." — John 15:13
Bloody D-Day and a Moment of Choice
June 6, 1944. Normandy. The world’s deadliest beachhead. For DeGlopper, it was barely the beginning. Days later, the fight rolled on to the bocage—the tangled hedgerows that swallowed men whole.
On June 9th, near the town of Graignes, his company was ordered to retreat under a withering German counterattack. The enemy fire was a beast—machine guns tearing through the ranks, artillery pounding the earth like thunder. Retreat meant death for some; it meant salvation for others.
DeGlopper’s orders were clear: cover the withdrawal. And cover it he did—with a correspondent’s keen eye, those who watched tell of a man who stood alone, firing relentlessly until he exhausted his ammunition, then grabbing an enemy weapon to keep the hailstorm of bullets and grenades at bay.
He was hit. Twice. But still, he fought forward, buying time for his comrades to escape the trap—turning his sacrifice into salvation. When finally silence settled, Charles DeGlopper lay alone amid the wreckage, a hero carved from hellfire.
Honors Etched In Sacrifice
Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, DeGlopper’s citation is stark but telling:
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty... By his extraordinary heroism and daring, he saved the lives of many men of his unit.”
General Matthew Ridgway, commander of the 82nd Airborne, spoke of men like DeGlopper as “the finest example of American courage.” Fellow paratroopers remembered him as a man who never once flinched, never once faltered.
His name is etched in the annals of the 82nd Airborne, on memorials that citizens still visit—grass stained with the colors of sacrifice.
Legacy Beyond the Battlefield
Charles DeGlopper’s story is not just one of war, but one of enduring human spirit. The battlefield is cruel; it demands a toll far beyond medals or headlines. His stand is a brutal reminder that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the choice to act regardless.
His sacrifice saved lives in a moment where all seemed lost—but it also left a legacy for generations. Veterans who follow his path understand the silent burden of looking death in the eye and choosing brotherhood over self-preservation.
His final act becomes prayer and promise.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” — Psalm 27:1
In a world too quick to forget, Charles Neil DeGlopper stands— not as a myth, but as a man. A soldier whose sacrifice carved open the dark for others to pass. His blood watered the fields of liberty, a reminder that freedom is bought with suffering, pain, and the bitter price paid by those who dare to act when others flee.
Remember the scars. Remember the name. Let every fallen comrade live again in our honor, in our memory, and in our fight for a better tomorrow.
This is why we fight. This is why we remember.
Sources
1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Stephen Ambrose, D-Day: June 6, 1944 (Simon & Schuster, 1994) 3. 82nd Airborne Division Archives, After Action Reports, June 1944 4. David T. Zabecki, World War II in Europe: An Encyclopedia (Routledge, 1999) 5. Official Medal of Honor Citation, Charles N. DeGlopper, U.S. Army Records
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