Charles DeGlopper’s WWII Medal of Honor stand at La Fiere

Nov 13 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper’s WWII Medal of Honor stand at La Fiere

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on that muddy ridge, bullets cracking all around him. His comrades were pulling back, screaming for cover. He didn't hesitate—he charged forward, a lone shield between death and his brothers. Every step forward echoed a promise: no man left behind.

The Making of a Warrior

Born in Albany, New York, 1921, Charles was the oldest son in a modest family. A factory worker before the war, he carried the grit of blue-collar America in his bones. Raised on simple values—faith, honor, and loyalty—he enlisted in the U.S. Army when the call came. Not for glory, but duty. His faith wasn’t just Sunday routine; it was his compass amid chaos.

The Christian teachings his mother instilled grounded him. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) This scripture was no abstract verse—it was his mission.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. Just three days after D-Day, the 82nd Airborne Division found itself locked in hell near the town of La Fiere, France. They faced a surge of German forces counterattacking to repulse the invasion. DeGlopper, part of Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, was ordered to hold a vital crossing on the Merderet River.

His unit was under relentless fire—machine guns, sniper rounds, artillery. The only path of retreat was across that steel footbridge. As his men began to fall back, exposed on the narrow crossing, DeGlopper did something no one else would—he stepped onto the bridge, fully visible to the enemy.

He fired his M1 rifle singlehandedly to pin down the Germans. Each burst a heartbeat, each shout a lifeline. He was the only cover between his retreating brothers and a kill zone.

The bridge became a killing ground, and DeGlopper was its lone sentinel. Reports say he emptied his weapon again and again until he was hit multiple times. Mortally wounded, he collapsed where he stood—his body shielding the withdrawal.

His sacrifice saved countless lives. Without that stand, the withdrawal would have turned into annihilation for his company.

Honor Among Brothers

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, DeGlopper’s citation reads:

"He singlehandedly held off a large force of the enemy and thus enabled his company to withdraw, preventing the company’s destruction."

General James M. Gavin, commanding the 82nd Airborne, remarked:

“Charles DeGlopper’s stand was the epitome of courage and brotherhood. We owe our lives to men like him.”

War correspondent Ernie Pyle, who knew the cost of combat, wrote about men like DeGlopper as “the true heroes who don’t wear medals but whose blood bought victory.”

Bloodied Soil, Enduring Spirit

Charles DeGlopper didn’t survive the war, but his story did. His name is etched on the tablets of honor, a testament written in sacrifice and valor.

His life reminds us what battle truly demands—sacrifice, selflessness, unwavering courage.

In every scar a story. In every loss a lesson: that freedom is paid for in blood and that redemption is found in the willingness to give all.

His legacy whispers to every soldier—and every citizen—that heroism isn’t in glory but in the gritty decision to stand when others run.

“He who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

Charles DeGlopper’s final stand wasn’t just a moment of battlefield heroism—it was a soul’s redemption, a warrior’s peace, and a brother’s eternal gift.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Stephen Ambrose, Citizen Soldiers (Simon & Schuster) 3. James M. Gavin, Airborne Warfare (Ballantine Books) 4. Ernie Pyle, Brave Men (William Morrow & Co.)