Charles DeGlopper’s sacrifice in Normandy saved scores of comrades

Jan 01 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper’s sacrifice in Normandy saved scores of comrades

No man stands alone when the fight claws at your throat. You fall back, bullets snapping like cursed prayers in your ears, and the world boils over with fire. Yet, there stands one man—Charles N. DeGlopper—who refused to die nameless.

Background & Faith

Born in Mechanicville, New York, in 1921, Charles DeGlopper was raised with the steady hands and quiet faith of blue-collar America. A factory worker turned soldier, he carried the grit of the working man and the solemn weight of a simple creed: protect your brothers, whatever it takes.

He believed in duty, honor, and, above all, sacrifice. In letters home, he often quoted Scripture, grounding himself in Psalm 23:4:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

That promise shaped his resolve.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. The hedgerows of Normandy were hell on earth.

DeGlopper was a Private First Class with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment—part of the Big Red One. His unit had secured a bridgehead over the La Fière causeway, a vital crossing under brutal, relentless enemy fire.

When the order came to pull back, his comrades faltered under the crushing pressure of German machine guns and mortars. Without hesitation, DeGlopper stepped into the breach.

Armed with only an M1 rifle, he charged forward into a torrent of bullets and shells. Alone, he stood to cover the retreat of his platoon, drawing every ounce of hostile fire upon himself. His voice barked orders to stay low, stay alive, while dozens of soldiers slipped safely behind him.

He moved deliberately from bush to bush, shooting and shouting, always forward. When the enemy zeroed in, he fought on, refusing to quit until he fell—wounded nearly to death, his position overrun.

His sacrifice bought precious time. Scores escaped. DeGlopper died a warrior’s death.

Recognition

For that selfless act of valor, Charles DeGlopper posthumously received the Medal of Honor on January 10, 1946. His citation reads in part:

“With conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Private First Class DeGlopper single-handedly held off an overwhelming enemy force, which allowed his comrades to disengage and withdraw.”

General Omar Bradley once said:

“DeGlopper’s courage was of the finest kind, a beacon in the darkest moments of battle.”

His sacrifice became a symbol—not just of bravery, but of the relentless spirit of the infantryman who stands between chaos and survival.

Legacy & Lessons

Charles DeGlopper’s story is not just a footnote in the tide of World War II. It’s a reminder etched in blood—that courage is not the absence of fear but the resolve to stand when the world screams to run.

Through his sacrifice, he carried his brothers off the battlefield, embodying the warrior’s sacred code: to watch their six, even when it costseverything.

Redemption does not come in glory, but in sacrifice. DeGlopper’s final stand echoes still for soldiers today, and for a nation too quick to forget the blood-soaked price of freedom.

As Paul wrote to the Corinthians,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Charles DeGlopper kept his faith until the last breath. His legacy demands that we do the same—stand firm, shield the fallen, and carry their story forward.

He bled for us all. We owe him that much, and more.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients, World War II (M-S). 2. Steven J. Zaloga, Omaha Beach 1944: The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II. 3. The New York Times, “Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Recipient,” January 11, 1946.