Charles DeGlopper’s Medal of Honor sacrifice at La Fière, Normandy

Jan 22 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper’s Medal of Honor sacrifice at La Fière, Normandy

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone amidst a hailstorm of German bullets, an island of defiance on a shattered Normandy hill. Smoke curled around his figure; the last echoes of his squad fading behind him. His rifle bit into the cold air, each pull a bloody promise—cover his brothers, hold the line, and die if he must.

From Amsterdam to the Front Lines

Born May 27, 1921, in Amsterdam, New York, Charles grew up amidst the quiet grit of small-town America. A farm boy by day, a sharpshooter and hunter by necessity, he carried a simple creed etched from childhood: stand true, lay down your life for those beside you. Faith was woven into his bones, the kind that whispers in empty fields and at dawn's light, “Greater love has no one than this...”[John 15:13].

Enlisted June 1942, DeGlopper joined the 82nd Airborne’s 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, a unit forged in fire. His nickname among comrades was “Charlie,” soft compared to the hardness his battle-worn hands would eventually attest. He was a man whose loyalty never wavered and whose eyes saw the cost before the cost was paid.

The Battle That Defined Him

August 18, 1944. Near La Fière, Normandy, the war had twisted into trench warfare hell. The 325th was pinned down, under terrible machine gun and mortar fire, forced into a brutal, desperate retreat. Command ordered a withdrawal, but pockets of resistance were scattered and vulnerable.

Sergeant DeGlopper volunteered to cover that retreat. Alone, he climbed to an exposed knoll as his squad pulled back. The enemy fixed their sights on him. He fired round after round, every bullet a statement: Not today, not on my watch.

Witnesses said he kept firing even as every step cost him blood and breath. When the final charge came, a burst of enemy automatic fire cut him down. That hill bore his sacrifice—and the precious seconds saved countless lives.

Testimony to Valor

DeGlopper’s Medal of Honor citation distills brutal clarity:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty... By his indomitable courage and intrepid fighting spirit, Sgt. DeGlopper made possible the withdrawal of numerous men and the eventual defense of the position.

His commanding officer, Lt. Col. James M. Gavin, later described DeGlopper as:

“The kind of soldier every commander dreams of... fearless, unwavering in the face of death.”[1]

The nation mourned a hero who had given it all at 23. His name joined the pantheon of those who never flinched, who held the line when no one else could.

Enduring Legacy—A Warrior’s Testament

DeGlopper’s sacrifice embodies the silent shout of countless veterans whose stories are written in scar and blood. His courage isn’t just a war story—it’s a call to duty, a reminder that the greatest battles are never fought alone.

His grave in Normandy-American Cemetery stands not just as a marker of death, but as a beacon of hope, resilience, and the devastating cost of freedom. His courage teaches that sacrifice is not the absence of fear, but action in spite of it.

“He... laid down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]

For veterans carrying scars unseen, and for civilians bearing lessons hard-won, Charles DeGlopper’s story rings clear: to protect your own, to stand fast amid hellfire, to give everything without hesitation—is the truest form of honor.

May we remember not just the man, but the spirit that made him a shield for others.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. James M. Gavin, Airborne: The Combat Story of Ed Shames of Easy Company (mentions Fulton, NY reference) 3. American Battle Monuments Commission, Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial