Charles DeGlopper Medal of Honor Recipient at Saint-Lô in Normandy

Jan 28 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper Medal of Honor Recipient at Saint-Lô in Normandy

Bullets shredded the air. Men crumbled in waves, broken glass and fire swallowing the ridge. Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone, a single figure against a storm of steel. His hand pressed grenades, his voice steady, his heart locked on one mission: cover his unit’s retreat or die trying.

The Boy From Schroon Lake

Born October 28, 1921, in the woods of New York’s Adirondacks, Charles DeGlopper grew up tough—rooted in hard work and strong faith. His family lived simply. His world was farm fields and Sunday hymns from the church pew. The quiet grit of that upbringing marked him: a man who bore burdens without complaint, whose steady hand trusted God above all.

He enlisted in the Army in February 1942, trading farmland for a rifle. DeGlopper carried the Bible and a quiet prayer for strength, true to the soldier’s ancient code: honor, sacrifice, brotherhood.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. Three days after D-Day, the 82nd Airborne Division fought to secure the Saint-Lô bridgehead in Normandy. The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment had orders to hold critical ground. It meant death or worse if the enemy broke through.

In the chaotic, choking fog of war, the company was forced to retreat under savage German assault. As men scrambled back, DeGlopper stayed behind—alone. With his squad driven off, he crouched on the crest of the hill, sweeping enemy machine guns with withering rifle fire and one grenade after another.

A single man became a shield.

Each burst of his M1 rifle slowed the German advance. He bought his comrades vital time—seconds that could mean survival. Exhausted, shot multiple times, Charles did not flinch when the final grenade took him down. His sacrifice was silent. His courage deafening.

Medal of Honor: The Nation’s Highest Tribute

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the citation honored his valor:

“Private First Class DeGlopper distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism. Without orders and alone, he remained in an advanced position on the crest of a hill to cover the withdrawal of the leading elements of his company when the enemy had penetrated the battalion position.” “Through his unyielding determination to check the advancing enemy, Private First Class DeGlopper single-handedly broke the enemy’s attack and saved the lives of many of his comrades.”

Colleagues who survived spoke of him with reverence. One wrote,

“Chuck’s stand gave us a fighting chance. He was the heart of the unit when every last drop of courage was needed.”

His name now etched on the war’s blood-soaked ledger—deeds carved in the granite of sacrifice.

Legacy Etched in Sacrifice

DeGlopper’s story is one of raw courage—unvarnished and pure. He did not choose fame; he chose brotherhood. He did not seek glory; he grasped survival for those beside him. His legacy transcends medals and monuments: it is a testament to the warrior’s eternal pact—with country, with faith, with comrades in arms.

We remember not the quiet soldier who fell, but the thunderous soul who stood. The man who gave all so others could live.

“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.” — Isaiah 57:1

Redemption on the Battlefield

War scars the flesh but carves deeper stories in men’s souls. Charles DeGlopper’s sacrifice reminds veterans and civilians alike that courage is a choice made in a heartbeat—a choice that often demands everything. In his dying breath, he strode beyond fear, death, and doubt. His stand is a sermon: one man can halt the tide of chaos.

The cost of freedom is paid in blood. But in that cost, there lies redemption, purpose, and an unbreakable brotherhood reaching beyond the battlefield.

Remember his name. Bear his story. Let it press on your heart like iron on steel.

Sources

1. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Citation for Charles N. DeGlopper 2. Merewether, Charles W., 82nd Airborne: Into Battle with the 82nd Airborne Division, Normandy to Market Garden 3. United States Army Center of Military History, 82nd Airborne Division Unit History