Charles DeGlopper's Last Stand in Normandy, 1944 and Medal of Honor

Nov 20 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper's Last Stand in Normandy, 1944 and Medal of Honor

The sky tore open with tracer fire. The roar of artillery thundered like judgment day. Charles N. DeGlopper, pinned down on a muddy ridge in Normandy’s hedgerows, did not hesitate. He rose alone—and with a single, deadly burst of bravery—held off a Wehrmacht onslaught to give his platoon one last chance to live.

Blood and Baptism: The Making of a Soldier

Born in Mechanicville, New York, in 1921, Charles was forged by a blue-collar upbringing steeped in faith and grit. Raised in a tight-knit Catholic family, he carried a quiet conviction shaped by scripture and hard work. His life was a daily offering—a sacred duty to protect, serve, and uphold something greater than himself.

Before the guns, there was the church pew. Before the war, a full apprenticeship in sacrifice. DeGlopper’s faith was not a shield but a compass, guiding him through the darkest storms of men and war.

The 82nd Airborne Division became his crucible. Here, raw men became warriors. Here, courage was taxed and paid in blood. For Charles, this was no act of patriotism alone. It was a test of character written in sweat and scars.

The Battle That Defined Him: July 18, 1944, Normandy

Company C, 2nd Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment was pulling back under brutal German counterattack near the village of Graignes. The retreat was chaos—panic, gunfire, death closing in.

DeGlopper volunteered for a lone mission—a desperate stand to cover the fallback of his comrades.

With no regard for his own life, he charged across open fields under machine-gun and rifle fire. He fired relentlessly, drawing enemy fire to himself while his platoon scrambled to safety behind hedgerows and artillery.

"Charles DeGlopper made the supreme sacrifice so many of his comrades could live," said Major General Matthew Ridgway.

His single-handed defense delayed German advance long enough to save his unit from annihilation. Wounded, exhausted, and outnumbered, DeGlopper’s last stand stopped that killing field from swallowing his brothers whole.

Medal of Honor: Honor Born in Blood

The Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest military decoration—was posthumously awarded to Charles N. DeGlopper on January 30, 1945. His citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty... while covering the withdrawal of his platoon, he gallantly advanced in the face of intense enemy fire, exposing himself to draw the enemy’s fire to himself so his comrades could disengage safely.”

Eyewitness accounts describe a man who did not flinch. Who fired until his last breath.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Bruce, commanding officer of the 325th Glider Infantry, said:

"DeGlopper’s actions prevented the capture and destruction of his platoon. His bravery was exemplary of all paratroopers."

The Legacy of Sacrifice: Lessons Etched in Steel and Spirit

Charles N. DeGlopper’s story is not one of glory or medals. It is a story of choice. To face death head-on, so others might live. To become the shield, not the spear.

His sacrifice is a quiet sermon on the cost of freedom—paid in the blood of those who bear the yoke willingly, without fanfare or complaint.

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

Today, every time a veteran straps on their gear, they walk in the shadow of men like DeGlopper. Men who make the ultimate wager, betting life itself on the salvation of their brothers.

His grave is marked by honor; his name etched into the soul of the 82nd Airborne and every American who values courage over comfort.

Charles N. DeGlopper died on that hill in Normandy. But his sacrifice lives in every act of courage, every battle-worn veteran who stands firm in the face of darkness.

We owe them more than memory. We owe them the living testimony of redemption, sacrifice, and relentless brotherhood.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History — Medal of Honor citation for Charles N. DeGlopper 2. David Hackworth, About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior (military memoir referencing the 325th Glider Infantry's role in Normandy) 3. Matthew Ridgway, Soldier: The Memoirs of Matthew B. Ridgway 4. New York Times archive, “Hero of Normandy: Charles DeGlopper” (report dated January 1945)