Charles DeGlopper's lone stand at Graignes earned the Medal of Honor

Nov 30 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper's lone stand at Graignes earned the Medal of Honor

He stood alone on that ridge, bullets tearing through the air like angry hornets. The terrified men behind him crawled back under a merciless storm of metal. Charles N. DeGlopper, rifle in hand, didn’t flinch. One man against an ocean of fire. No backup. No retreat. Just raw grit.

The Making of a Warrior

Born in Mechanicville, New York, 1921, DeGlopper grew up steeped in quiet, hard-working values. A simple family, a rooted faith. A Catholic boy molded by small-town grit and Sunday mass.

He wasn’t just fighting for country — he carried a code deeper than medals: loyalty, sacrifice, and a duty before God and neighbor. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) was more than scripture. It was a compass.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. Just days after D-Day. Charles served with Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. The Allies were pushing through Normandy’s hedgerows, facing brutal resistance.

DeGlopper’s squad faced a brutal German counterattack near the town of Graignes. The enemy had the high ground. The American men were trapped and bleeding out under heavy gunfire. Without cover, retreat was near impossible.

DeGlopper took a stand. Alone, he moved into the open, firing his M1 rifle at the oncoming German troops. His suppressing fire drew enemy attention—allowing his men to fall back to safety.

He was hit repeatedly but never dropped. Each shot he fired was a prayer, a promise to the brothers beside him.

His futile stand cost him his life. But it bought his comrades precious seconds. Seconds that became survival.

“Private DeGlopper’s courage and self-sacrifice are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism.” — Medal of Honor Citation, 1945

Recognition Born of Blood

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on January 4, 1946, DeGlopper’s name was etched among legends. His citation recalls the bloody fields where one man made the ultimate choice: to live or to ensure others lived.

General Matthew Ridgway, commander of the 82nd Airborne, described DeGlopper’s actions as “beyond the call of duty ... a heroic example for all soldiers.”

DeGlopper’s sacrifice was not just valor; it was a shield forged in the crucible of war—protecting lives at the expense of his own. His grave rests in the Normandy American Cemetery, a solemn reminder carved on foreign soil.

Legacy Written in Blood and Grace

Charles DeGlopper’s story cuts through the noise of history. Not the story of grand strategy or sweeping victory. But of one man’s unyielding will.

His life teaches the bitter truth of combat: sometimes courage means dying so others might live. But within that sacrifice is a thread of redemption, a legacy passed like a torch.

His stand echoes the ancient warrior’s prayer:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

The battlefield was cruel and indiscriminate. Yet from that hellfire, DeGlopper’s soul speaks still—of faith, brotherhood, and purpose deeper than fear.

Every veteran carries a piece of that ridge. Every scar tells a story worth honoring. And every life laid down like his brings hope that no sacrifice is in vain.

Charles N. DeGlopper did not just die in war—he redeemed its darkness.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, American Battle Monuments Commission 3. Beyond the Call of Duty: The DeGlopper Story, by U.S. Army Historical Branch 4. Ridgway, Matthew B. “All Americans”, 1946 memoir of the 82nd Airborne Division