Dec 09 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Sacrifice That Saved His Squad

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a ridge, bullets stitching the air around him. His squad was falling back—outnumbered, outgunned, scattered. But DeGlopper didn’t flinch. He turned, raised his Thompson submachine gun, and fired into the onrushing enemy, covering every last step of his comrades’ retreat. The cost was ultimate. Death came swiftly. Yet in those final breaths, he carved a story etched deep in the marrow of sacrifice.

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Roots of a Soldier

Born in 1921 in Schroon Lake, New York, Charles DeGlopper was a man drilled by the steady grit of small-town America. Raised in a devout household, he carried faith into combat—a silent armor against fear. From a young age, the cadence of “Duty. Honor. Country.” wasn’t just words; it was a creed forged in Sunday sermons and the hands of his hardworking family.

DeGlopper enlisted in the Army in 1942, hungry to serve but grounded in humility. His faith threaded quietly through his journal entries and letters. It shaped his understanding of sacrifice—not as mere loss, but as purpose aligned with something greater: redemption through service and brotherhood.

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

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The Battle That Defined Him: Normandy, June 9, 1944

The morning after D-Day, the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division pushed inland near Le Grand Bonfait, France. The unit faced ferocious German counterattacks, desperate to cut off the beachhead.

DeGlopper’s squad was assigned to seize a vital hill—the west slope of the Falaise-Argentan road. As the Germans swarmed, his comrades began withdrawing under withering machine-gun, mortar, and rifle fire. But the order to retreat meant leaving a gaping hole.

DeGlopper stood firm, wielding his Thompson against enemy machine guns and riflemen. Unafraid, he advanced alone, drawing fire away from his retreating squad. Each burst was calculated sacrifice—covering dozens of soldiers, buying them precious seconds.

Bullets tore through his body. His legs buckled. Still, he fired. Eventually, he collapsed, mortally wounded but victorious in the price paid.

His final act was not for glory—but for brothers in arms, a living shield between death and survival.

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Honors Earned in Blood

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 2, 1944, DeGlopper’s citation recounts that “he deliberately exposed himself to the enemy’s withering fire in order to hold back their advance and cover the withdrawal of his men.” His actions exemplified selflessness beyond the call—turning the tide through sheer will and courage.

General Omar Bradley praised the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, noting their “devotion and valor.” DeGlopper’s story circulated within the ranks as a visceral example of sacrifice. Fellow soldiers remembered him as calm under pressure, steady as granite.

His grave in Normandy stands as a testament—silent and sacred. The American battlefield cemetery where he rests is visited by those who understand the true cost of freedom.

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Legacy: The Enduring Sacrifice

Charles DeGlopper’s name is not just inscribed on medals or monuments—it lives in the bloodstained pages of warrior lore. His courage under fire offers timeless lessons for veterans and civilians alike:

Sacrifice is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.

True leadership means owning the last step back so others may live.

Faith can anchor flesh and spirit in the chaos of war.

DeGlopper's story reminds us that heroism is often quiet, lonely, wrapped in smoke and final breaths. But through that sacrifice shines a light—a costly redemption for brothers left behind, and a legacy carved in the hearts of a nation.

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“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” — Psalm 116:15

Charles N. DeGlopper gave his life in that precious sight. And through it, his story endures—a raw, eternal call to courage and redemption.

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