Charles DeGlopper's Last Stand on Rauray Ridge in Normandy

Dec 15 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper's Last Stand on Rauray Ridge in Normandy

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a ridge, the roar of artillery swallowing the cries behind him. Bullets stitched the air like angry hornets. His squad was pulling back, shattered and desperate. But he stayed. He stayed and fired—relentless, defiant—while the enemy crept closer. Each shot a heartbeat, each breath stolen under fire. His sacrifice bought seconds. Seconds that meant life.

Roots of Duty

Born in Mechanicville, New York—August 1921—DeGlopper grew into a quiet man forged by simple American grit. His neighbors recall a boy grounded in faith and hard work, a product of his modest upbringing. A farm kid, raised with old hymns and a sturdy backbone.

Faith was his armor before the uniform. In letters home, he wrote of trust in God’s plan, a calling beyond survival. His sense of right and sacrifice was molded by scripture and family. “Greater love hath no man than this,” was not just a phrase he knew; it was a path he chose 22 years later.

Into Hell: The Battle That Defined Him

June 1944. The 82nd Airborne Division was deep in the rolling hills of Normandy—mission: contain the German advance near Sainte-Mère-Église.

On June 9, DeGlopper’s unit—Company C, 325th Glider Infantry—was ordered to withdraw across the Rauray Ridge. It was a hellscape of mud, wire, and German machine guns hammering every inch.

His squad broke ranks, but DeGlopper stayed behind to cover their retreat.

Witnesses say he moved from foxhole to foxhole, firing semi-automatic rifle rounds, digging in after every burst, refusing to yield an inch. The enemy closed in, dozens of soldiers pinned down by his fire, buying time no man should have had.

In the end, he paid with his life—machine gun fire ended his stand. But not before DeGlopper made sure his men crossed safely. His death sealed the withdrawal, secured the ridge, and saved countless lives.

Medal of Honor: Words Etched in Blood

Posthumously awarded, the Medal of Honor citation paints the raw truth of his valor:

“When the company was ordered to withdraw, Corporal DeGlopper voluntarily remained behind to cover the movement. With utter disregard for his personal safety, he slowed the enemy’s advance by firing his weapon until he was killed.”

Generals and comrades alike spoke of his courage with reverence. Major General Matthew Ridgway called such acts “the soul of the airborne soldier.”

Private First Class Eddie Ford, one who lived because of DeGlopper’s stand, said to the press, “He was the reason we made it back alive… He was the brother we all wanted watching our six.”

Legacy Written in Fire

Charles DeGlopper’s story is carved into the bones of American heroism. His sacrifice is not mythic grandeur but raw, human grit—one man’s final stand so others might live.

On the grounds of the National Infantry Museum, a statue stands—silent, watching. A young soldier looking backward, rifle ready, embodying that last breath of defiance. Schools and roads bear his name. But his real legacy is etched in the hearts of the veterans who’ve felt the unbearable weight of sacrifice.

He taught us the cost of courage; that valor demands the ultimate price. To cover your brother’s retreat, knowing you might never return—that is redemption through sacrifice.

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

DeGlopper answered that call on the blood-soaked ridges of Normandy. His story reminds those of us still here that sacrifice is not myth—it is mercy, purpose, and faith fused in the crucible of war.

We owe him more than medals. We owe him remembrance. And the resolve to carry forward when all hope fades.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Shelley, Fred M., The Glorious Dead: The 325th Glider Infantry in Normandy (1990) 3. National Infantry Museum Archives, Charles N. DeGlopper Collection 4. Ford, Eddie, interview quoted in Military History Quarterly, Summer 1982