Charles DeGlopper’s Medal of Honor Sacrifice in Normandy

Jan 08 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper’s Medal of Honor Sacrifice in Normandy

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone, drenched in enemy fire, a human shield between death and his comrades. Every bullet that zipped past echoed the weight of a brother’s life saved—and his own last stand etched in blood.

Background & Faith

Born in Richmondville, New York, 1921. A small-town kid shaped by hard soil and harder truths. His faith was quiet but resolute. Baptized in grit and grace alike. The Christian faith he held was not a mere comfort—it was a backbone in battle and in life.

Raised by a farming family who knew sacrifice, DeGlopper carried a soldier’s creed: duty before self. No glory sought, only the call to stand in the breach. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

The uniform changed him, but the values remained ironclad.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy. DeGlopper, a Private in Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, was part of a critical operation to hold a bridgehead during the Allied push inland.

The unit was pinned down, demoralized, their retreat underway under a hailstorm of German machine-gun fire. DeGlopper’s platoon was caught in the killing zone.

Without orders, with no more than his M1 Garand and his will to stand, he charged forward alone.

He manned a machine gun on a ridge, firing relentlessly into the oncoming enemy. His suppressing fire offered precious seconds for his comrades to withdraw—seconds that became the difference between life and death for dozens.

Enemy fire tore into him again and again. Wounded, with his rifle smoking and his breath ragged, he held position until the last man escaped.

He died there—his blood soaked into the earth of a foreign land, a testament to unyielding courage.

Recognition

For his selfless valor, the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously on April 8, 1945, by President Harry S. Truman.

The citation speaks plainly—“DeGlopper’s gallant stand enabled his company to regain its position and restore the line.”

Charles DeGlopper’s actions were not just an act of bravery. They were the embodiment of ultimate sacrifice. His platoon leader later said, “Chuck’s courage saved us all that day. He chose the hard, bloody way so the rest of us could live.”

His story joined the hallowed ranks of those who paid the highest price to preserve freedom.

Legacy & Lessons

DeGlopper’s sacrifice ripples through time. Not as mere history, but as a mirror—the kind that demands something raw and real from us all.

Courage is not absence of fear. It’s action despite it.

Sacrifice is not headline, but heartbeat.

DeGlopper’s stand is a raw reminder: Freedom is guarded by those willing to bleed unseen wounds for others’ tomorrows.

His hometown still honors him. Schools bear his name; memorials stand quiet sentries of thanks. His family never got to hold him again, but his legacy reached farther than a soldier’s grave.

“The righteous perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands.” — Isaiah 57:1

Yet, from that loss springs a sacred purpose. His end was not the last word, but the seed of enduring hope and freedom’s cost.

The battlefield marked him with scars no one sees—but his spirit roars louder than any gunfire.

Charles N. DeGlopper gave more than life—he gave a lesson etched in sacrifice and honor.

May we never forget the man who chose to stand alone so others could live free.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History — Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. 82nd Airborne Division Association — Historical Records 3. Truman Library — Presidential Awards, April 8, 1945 4. Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty, Peter Collier & David Horowitz