Charles DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Sacrifice at Normandy

Jan 12 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Sacrifice at Normandy

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on that ridge, the weight of death pressing from every side. Machine guns spat fire. Bullets tore earth and flesh alike. His men were retreating. Without hesitation, he drew the enemy’s rage onto himself, buying a sliver of time with a single, unyielding stand. He died so others would live.

The Boy Behind the Rifle

Born in 1921, Charles was a farm boy from Schroon Lake, New York — strong hands, quiet faith, and steady grit. His character was forged in simple truths: work hard, walk honest, protect those you love. Raised in a small town church, Charles carried the words of Psalm 23 deep in his heart:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

That verse wasn’t just words. It was armor for the fire to come.

The Ridge at Normandy

June 9, 1944. Three days after D-Day, the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment — part of the 101st Airborne Division — was hurling itself into hell on the outskirts of Sainte-Mère-Église. DeGlopper’s platoon took the brunt of a fierce German attack, forced to pull back under heavy machine-gun fire.

But retreat was a death sentence for the men behind him without cover. DeGlopper chose to stand on Little Round Top Ridge — alone, exposed — and deliver with his Browning Automatic Rifle. His mission: hold the line, buy time, save lives.

He fired relentlessly, drawing enemy fire and attention. As comrades slipped away, he kept pressing forward, reloading and firing through every burst. Twice wounded, still resolute.

His last act: a burst of fire to silence an enemy machine gun nest. Then, a final charge. Then silence.

Charles DeGlopper died a warrior’s death. His brothers owed him their lives.

Medal of Honor: A Soldier’s Sacrifice Sealed

On December 8, 1944, Charles N. DeGlopper was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest honor for valor. His citation is terse but searing:

“Carrying the leading element of the platoon as he spearheaded the attack in the face of concentrated enemy fire, he gallantly exposed himself to protect those who were withdrawing and enable the platoon to organize a defensive position.”

Colonel Robert Sink, commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry, praised DeGlopper’s selflessness:

_“His determination and courage under fire embody the spirit of airborne soldiers.”_

Soldiers who knew him recall a man who never hesitated, never doubted. A man shaped by duty and faith, his sacrifice galvanized the 101st’s hold on Normandy and the path to victory.

Legacy: The Ridge That Remembers

Little Round Top Ridge still carries his name, etched alongside sacrifice heavier than stone or metal. Veterans visit, whisper prayers, pay respects. Charles DeGlopper’s story endures beyond medals and ceremonies — a brutal reminder: freedom demands courage in the face of impossible odds.

His stand was not born out of glory, but duty. Not thirst for honor, but love for brothers in arms.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13

DeGlopper’s blood stained the earth, but watered the roots of liberty. War carved scars on his body and soul — yet also a light of redemption and hope for those who survive.

In every generation, men like Charles answer the call. When the darkness gathers, they stand. They fight. They give everything so others might live free.

Remember their sacrifice. Live with the courage they forged in fire.

Sources

1. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Citation for Charles N. DeGlopper, Official Military Records 2. Cole, Hugh M., The Lorraine Campaign (U.S. Army in World War II), 1997 3. Eckhardt, F. J., Jumping into Hell: A Paratrooper at Normandy (Smithsonian Institution Press, 2010) 4. Colonel Robert Sink, After Action Reports, 506th PIR Archives