Charles DeGlopper’s Final Stand on the D-Day Ridge

Dec 13 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper’s Final Stand on the D-Day Ridge

He stood alone on a shattered ridge, bleeding but unyielding. Bullets bit at him. Mortar shells painted the earth with fire. Behind him, his brothers in the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment scrambled to safety. Without hesitation, Charles Neilans DeGlopper became the shield between death and his comrades.

His last stand on June 9, 1944, near Sainte-Mère-Église, France, was more than desperate courage—it was a deliberate sacrifice. A choice made in the heart of hell, born from duty, faith, and relentless grit.

From Upstate Roots to Paratrooper Resolve

Born October 30, 1921, in Mechanicville, New York, DeGlopper grew up in a life molded by hard work and quiet faith. His family was rooted in simple honesty and reverence for country and God. A farmer’s son with a heart forged for sacrifice.

He joined the Army in 1942, drawn by the call to serve and something deeper—an unspoken code that bound him tighter than steel: protect your own, come hell or high water. The paratrooper’s path was brutal, grueling—no room for hesitation.

DeGlopper carried with him more than a rifle; he carried an unyielding belief in honor and a Psalm often whispered under breath:

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” — Psalm 23:4

The Battle That Defined Charles DeGlopper

Just days after the D-Day landings, the 503rd PIR pushed through the hedgerows, their objective to seize and hold strategic ground. On June 9, 1944, near the small French town of Sainte-Mère-Église, the 1st Battalion faced a brutal counterattack.

Enemy forces poured artillery and machine gun fire from the high ground. The American rifle companies were pinned, forced into a fighting withdrawal under merciless fire. DeGlopper’s squad was ordered to cover the retreat.

In the chaos, he saw his comrades fall back—but the enemy surged forward, eager to slaughter the stragglers. DeGlopper chose to stay. Alone, he stood atop an exposed ridge, wielding his Browning Automatic Rifle.

He opened fire relentlessly, each burst buying seconds—then minutes—for the men to escape. His weapon roared defiance into the smoke-soaked field.

The enemy zeroed in on him. Bullets ripped his body repeatedly. Wounded and bleeding, DeGlopper refused to fall back. When American medics finally reached him, they found him dead beside his weapon, the position held.

His sacrifice saved his unit from annihilation.

Medal of Honor: A Brotherhood Remembered

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on September 8, 1944, DeGlopper’s citation praised his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.” His actions provided miraculous cover against a far superior enemy force.

Brigadier General James M. Gavin, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, called him “a soldier whose courage was of the highest order.” Fellow paratroopers spoke of DeGlopper in hushed reverence—the man who stayed when all others fled.

His Bronze Star and Purple Heart stand alongside the Medal of Honor as symbols of ultimate sacrifice. More than decorations, they mark a legacy etched in blood and resolve.

Enduring Legacy: Courage Carved in Stone

Charles DeGlopper’s story is not just a footnote in the expansive war chronicles. It is a raw lesson in selflessness. His stand reminds us that courage is not some grand gesture—it’s the choice in the heart of terror to put others before yourself.

His sacrifice echoes through veterans who walk scarred paths, bound by shared blood and loyalty. For civilians, his story strips war of glamor, exposing the stark price paid in mud and sacrifice.

DeGlopper’s legacy lives in the fields of France, the names etched on memorials, and the families and comrades who carry the weight of his choice.

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

Charles Neilans DeGlopper gave everything on a distant ridge so others might live on. His blood stained foreign soil, but his spirit fuels the unbroken line of warriors who answer the call—no matter the cost.

That is the undeniable, unyielding truth of sacrifice. That is the legacy of a paratrooper who became a shield.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. United States Army Airborne Museum, The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment Historical Records 3. James M. Gavin, On to Berlin: Battles of an Airborne Commander (Harper & Brothers, 1946) 4. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Charles N. DeGlopper Citation