Charles DeGlopper’s Sacrifice at La Fière Earned the Medal of Honor

Jan 01 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper’s Sacrifice at La Fière Earned the Medal of Honor

Charles DeGlopper stood breaking the tree line that morning, grenades cracking open shells of fire. His squad was falling back—fragile as broken glass. He knew once he exposed himself, the enemy would burn him alive. That sacrifice would save lives. No hesitations. Only cold will.

Background & Faith

Born in Grand Island, New York, Charles was the sixth son of a hardworking family. Raised by a father who prized honesty and a mother who taught prayer, the young man grew in quiet humility. Faith was never a thing spoken loudly—only lived plainly.

He joined the 82nd Airborne Division, a brotherhood bound by grit and service. Charles carried his convictions silently through muddy foxholes and night watches. A soldier’s true armor is not Kevlar—it’s the soul that refuses to break.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944—just three days after D-Day—DeGlopper's unit was entrenched near La Fière in Normandy. The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment faced a brutal counterattack. The Germans pushed hard, forcing many men to pull back under relentless fire.

Charles saw the line slipping. The enemy’s machine guns mowed down his squad’s retreat path. He made his choice: hold them off alone.

With a stubborn roar, he charged forward firing his Browning Automatic Rifle, drawing enemy fire like a bull in a red pen. Every burst was a message: "Not today."

He fired until his ammunition ran dry, then grabbed a rifle and continued the fight. Hit multiple times, he stayed on his feet, delivering cover until finally succumbing to mortal wounds.

His futile stand bought his comrades the precious seconds to escape certain death.

Recognition

Posthumous Medal of Honor returned to his family in 1945. The citation reads:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty... DeGlopper distinguished himself by heroic actions in face of overwhelming odds."

Generals and brothers in arms spoke of him in hushed tones—not as a myth, but a man who chose selflessness over survival. Brigadier General James Gavin described him as:

"...a quiet soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice without a word of complaint."

Legacy & Lessons

DeGlopper’s story is stitched into the fabric of what it means to be a warrior. His sacrifice is a raw testament: Courage is measured not in glory but in the cost accepted quietly.

His name marks a bridge across the Fière River. It stands as a silent sentinel—reminding every crossing soldier of the price paid for their passage.

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

Charles DeGlopper gave his all—not for fame, but to uphold a code older than war itself. The legacy he leaves is not just of valor, but of redeemed purpose: battle scars transformed into witness.

We carry that lesson in our blood: True heroism demands everything, expects nothing, and endures forever.