Charles DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Last Stand at Forges de la Scarpe

May 31 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Last Stand at Forges de la Scarpe

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone against a thunderstorm of bullets. His rifle barked into the cacophony, each shot a heartbeat holding back death. Behind him, his brothers-in-arms scrambled under brutal fire, pinned down on the muddy banks of the Forges de la Scarpe in France. No backup. No retreat. Just one man, one mission—cover the withdrawal at all costs.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. Two days after D-Day, the 82nd Airborne Division clawed its way through the French countryside. Among them, DeGlopper—a Private First Class with Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment—carried a weight far heavier than his pack. His unit was caught in a deadly crossfire trying to cross the La Fière causeway. German machine guns tore through the fading mist, cutting down his comrades one by one.

With no artillery or tank support, the squad’s movement stalled. Orders came: retreat. But no man was to be left exposed. DeGlopper volunteered for a final stand. He moved to a small hedgerow, firing continuously, his bursts a shield to cover the men escaping certain death. He collapsed, riddled by enemy bullets, but not before buying seconds—precious seconds that saved many lives.

The Man Behind the Rifle

Born April 22, 1921, in Barton, New York, Charles DeGlopper grew up grounded in small-town faith and hard work. Raised in a family that prized duty and honor, he carried those lessons into battle. Friends recalled him as quiet but resolute, a man who believed his actions reflected a higher calling.

"I think he believed God had a plan for him on that battlefield," one comrade later said. His faith was a quiet undercurrent, not preached but lived. It gave him the courage to face impossible odds. The soldier who prays is not the one who fears death but the one who trusts in a purpose beyond it.

The Sacrifice at Forges de la Scarpe

DeGlopper’s last stand was brutal and swift. As his squad retreated, he held the line alone, firing his Browning Automatic Rifle into the enemy’s attempt to pin down his unit. The hedgerow he chose was a death trap—exposed, with no cover. He sustained multiple wounds but kept firing until his rifle jammed.

Witnesses described a desperate resolve. One sergeant said, "He wasn't just fighting for his life. He fought to save ours." The enemy finally overwhelmed him. His body was found where he fell, his rifle empty but his mission complete.

His sacrifice allowed Company C to escape annihilation. Without it, the 82nd Airborne’s foothold in France could have crumbled.

Recognition Etched in Valor

On November 1, 1944, Charles DeGlopper was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. President Harry S. Truman signed the citation, immortalizing his name among America’s bravest. The award’s wording cuts straight to the bone:

“By his gallantry and self-sacrifice in covering the withdrawal of his comrades under heavy fire, Private First Class DeGlopper enabled members of his unit to reach safety. His intrepidity and unwavering devotion to duty saved many lives at the cost of his own.”

General Matthew Ridgway later remarked, “DeGlopper’s actions exemplify the highest traditions of American soldiering. His courage inspired those who came after.”

A Legacy Written in Blood and Faith

Charles DeGlopper’s story is no myth. It is stamped in mud, gunpowder, and the bones of sacrifice. His life reminds veterans and civilians alike that freedom often demands a price few are willing to pay.

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

This truth flows through the line of every veteran who faces fire not for medal or glory but for the man standing beside him.

DeGlopper’s stand was a message etched on the scars of history: Courage is not the absence of fear—it is standing firm when fear screams loudest.

His legacy challenges us now—those who live free because he died free—to carry their story with reverence. To honor sacrifice by living with purpose, integrity, and faith beyond the battlefield.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients, World War II 2. 82nd Airborne Division Association, The Glider Infantry: 325th Regiment History 3. Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, Medal of Honor Award Records, Charles DeGlopper 4. Matthew Ridgway, Soldier: The Memoirs of Matthew B. Ridgway, 1956 5. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Charles N. DeGlopper Citation