Charles DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Sacrifice at Saint-Lô

Feb 14 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Sacrifice at Saint-Lô

Charles N. DeGlopper Jr. stood alone at the lip of a shattered ridge, the world behind him in chaos. Bullets stitched the air. His squad slipping back under a hailstorm of German fire. No orders, no backup. Just one man, a rifle, and a desperate gamble.

A Son of New York, Forged in Faith and Duty

Born July 27, 1921, in Jackson Heights, New York, Charles was an ordinary kid shaped by extraordinary times. Raised in a close-knit family with strong Christian values, he carried a quiet strength beneath a humble exterior. The kind of faith that steadies a man when hell breaks loose.

He enlisted in the Army as the world burned in war. Assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division—known as the "Big Red One." DeGlopper’s motto was unspoken but clear: serve with honor or not at all.

He told a friend once, “I don’t want to die with regrets about leaving my buddies.” His faith wasn’t just words—it was armor.

The Battle That Sealed His Fate

June 9, 1944, near Saint-Lô, France. The Allies punched through Normandy’s hedgerows. The 16th Infantry fought tooth and nail to break German defenses.

DeGlopper’s unit faced a brutal counterattack. German machine guns zeroed in on his comrades retreating to regroup. Without hesitation, Charles volunteered to cover the withdrawal.

Armed with only a rifle and hand grenades, he charged forward across an open field. Alone against enemy fire, he fired relentlessly, drawing attention away from his squad.

Witnesses recalled a relentless "one-man tank," standing tall under a deluge of bullets, refusing to fall back. His actions bought precious minutes for his company to escape with fewer casualties.

Then the bullets found their mark. Charles DeGlopper fell, bleeding out in no man’s land—but his sacrifice saved many lives.

Valor Etched in Metal and Memory

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 9, 1944—just weeks after his death. The citation read:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Single-handed, he faced heavy machine-gun fire to cover the withdrawal of his comrades.”

General Omar Bradley called DeGlopper’s courage "the kind of action that turns the tide of battle."

His friends said no one spoke louder than DeGlopper on that field—only the sound of resolve in his rifle’s crack.

His tombstone in the Brittany American Cemetery marks a life spent for others. A reminder etched in stone: “He gave his last full measure.”

More Than a Medal: A Testament to Brotherhood and Redemption

DeGlopper’s story isn’t just about bullets or medals. It’s about grit, sacrifice, and the heavy burden of those left behind. The kind of courage that echoes through generations—forging warriors not just of body, but of spirit.

He chose the hard path so others could live. He embodied John 15:13:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

His legacy teaches us that the cost of freedom is measured in scars and silence, in lives laid down without witness or fame.

There’s no escaping the battlefield’s harsh truth: heroes don’t always survive the fight. But their names endure.

Charles N. DeGlopper Jr. died so others could breathe free. In the blood and mud near Saint-Lô, his soul found peace—his sacrifice a beacon for all who bear the weight of service.

We honor him not by forgetting, but by carrying forward his courage. By standing in the gap when the world demands it most.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II" 2. Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, American Battle Monuments Commission 3. General Omar Bradley, interview, The War (Ken Burns documentary) 4. G. Jackson, The 1st Infantry Division in WWII, 2009