Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Recipient in Normandy

Jan 22 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Recipient in Normandy

Gunfire ripped the morning silence near Carentan. Bullets chewed earth and tore through flesh. Men fell, screaming prayers and curses alike. Somewhere in that chaos, Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone, a solitary wall of defiance between death and his brothers. He fired his rifle, sprinted through enemy fire, and gave his life so others could live.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. The Normandy hedgerows burned under a grisly sky. The 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment fought brutal, close-quarters combat. The village of La Fière lay contested—its capture was vital for the American push inland but retreat was growing inevitable.

DeGlopper’s platoon was ordered back across the causeway, the only path out. The enemy surged forward, machine guns hammering, mortar shells crashing like thunder. They broke ranks. Men stumbled in the mud, desperate to cross.

DeGlopper stayed.

He stepped into the open, rifle blazing, drawing German fire away from the escape route. His body took hits—too many to bear. But the line held long enough. His sacrifice allowed scores of men to escape the killing ground.

He died as he fought—fierce, unyielding, a sentinel for his brothers.

Roots of Honor and Faith

Born in 1921 in Selden, New York, Charles DeGlopper carried the quiet strength of a rural boy and the steadfast heart of a believer.

His family grounded him in humility, hard work, and faith. A devout Catholic, Charles lived by the creed: greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

No flamboyance. No cheap heroics. Just a hard, honest code—serve and protect, finish the fight, honor those who stand beside you.

The Fight at La Fière

His unit was scattered, pinned down by a hailstorm of enemy bullets. The causeway ahead was a death trap—one chance to hold the line.

“Every man for himself!” echoes faded in DeGlopper’s ears.

He refused it.

Charging forward alone, firing from the hip, DeGlopper bought his platoon time to withdraw. Twice he repositioned under fire, drawing more and more hostile fire.

“Hit again,” he’d have to push on.

Until he finally collapsed, riddled by bullets. The causeway was clear. His brothers crossed.

Medal of Honor and Comrades’ Testament

Posthumously awarded America’s highest honor on January 4, 1946, DeGlopper’s citation reads:

“He held his position almost alone against an enemy force vastly superior in numbers and firepower, until he was killed.”

Colonel Demsey, his regimental commander, called DeGlopper’s action:

“A supreme sacrifice, embodying the spirit and valor of the airborne infantry.”

This was no ordinary soldier; it was a brother who gave everything, no hesitation, no retreat.

Enduring Legacy

DeGlopper’s story lives beyond medals and citations. The Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial on the La Fière causeway stands as witness—and reminder—of what it means to bear the scars of combat with purpose.

Sacrifice is not a word. It is a doorway. His act saved lives and welded a legacy of courage.

In him we see truth: valor is not born in ease and comfort. It blooms in mud, under fire, when choice narrows to one—the salvation of many at the cost of one.

“He died for us,” one veteran said. And in that death, he gave us all the chance to live free.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Charles DeGlopper’s life and death remain a raw, haunting testament—a call to honor, to remember, and above all, to carry forward the fight for something greater than self. His blood an unshakable bridge between yesterday’s battle and today’s grace.