Nov 11 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper’s Medal of Honor Sacrifice at La Fière

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a shattered ridge. His rifle jammed. The enemy was closing in fast. Behind him, his company was falling back, crushed by a relentless barrage of fire. But he held that ground, a single man against a tide of death—covering his brothers’ retreat with the last ounce of his strength, sending volley after volley into the advancing Germans.

He never fired a shot for glory. He did it because they needed him to hold the line. Because every second counted. Because he believed in something greater than himself.

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The Boy from New York

Born in Mechanicville, New York, Charles DeGlopper was an ordinary man forged in the steady fires of small-town America. A farm boy with grit, grounded by faith and a steadfast commitment to duty. Raised in a close-knit family, his life was a testament to humility and quiet strength.

He carried a simple creed—to serve and protect, to love and to sacrifice.

His faith wasn’t just words. It shaped his resolve when the world tore apart around him.

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

In that scripture, he found purpose. DeGlopper’s character wasn’t built on medals or ceremony—it was carved from the soil of sacrifice and belief.

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The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. The French village of La Fière was a crucible of chaos. It was two days after D-Day, and the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was fighting to hold a vital causeway against the German counterattack.

DeGlopper’s company was tasked with securing a bridgehead critical to the Allied advance.

Enemy artillery and machine-gun nests snarled their every move. When the Germans launched a fierce counteroffensive, the call came to fall back. Without hesitation, DeGlopper volunteered to provide covering fire.

With his platoon retreating, he stayed behind, alone, continuously firing an M1 rifle jammed six times—each stop to fix meant bullets whistling inches away.

His mission was clear: delay the enemy, protect his comrades.

He moved position twice under fire, exposing himself to rain down suppressive fire. When machine guns zeroed in, he kept firing—finally struck down, still clutching his weapon.

His sacrifice bought crucial time, letting the rest of his unit pull back, regroup, and hold the bridge.

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Recognition Born in Blood

DeGlopper’s sacrifice did not go unnoticed.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on November 1, 1944.

The citation reads:

“Sergeant DeGlopper’s intrepid actions and gallant defense of his position against overwhelming odds exemplify the highest traditions of military service.”

Brigadier General Maxwell D. Taylor, who commanded the 82nd Airborne, declared,

“His courage was the stuff of legends. DeGlopper held the enemy off until he fell, saving the lives of comrades who otherwise would have been lost.”

This wasn’t hyperbole. It was raw truth—etched in the dirt and blood of La Fière.

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A Legacy Written in Sacrifice

Charles N. DeGlopper’s story isn’t just a footnote in the annals of WWII. It’s a hard lesson in what true courage looks like—sacrificial, relentless, and selfless.

His name is etched on a bridge in France, a permanent testament to a warrior who never wavered.

His sacrifice reminds us that heroism is not some lightning strike. It is the steady flame held against the darkness.

In remembering men like DeGlopper, we are called beyond mere gratitude. We are called to live in service—to protect the vulnerable, to stand when others fall, and to hold faith as our shield.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13

He did not survive the battle, but in the legacy of that stand, there is life for all who follow.

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We owe him—not just medals, nor monuments—but the hard work of remembering what it means to carry the burden of freedom.

Because DeGlopper’s last shot was more than bullets: It was the price of hope.

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