Charles DeGlopper's Normandy Stand That Earned the Medal of Honor

Jan 22 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper's Normandy Stand That Earned the Medal of Honor

The air tore with bullets. Charles DeGlopper stood alone on the ridge, a single figure against a storm of German fire. His men were falling back — scattered, bleeding, desperate. He faced the enemy head-on, covering every step they took, knowing full well he might never see home again.

Blood and Honor: The Making of Charles N. DeGlopper

Born in 1921, Charles N. DeGlopper came from the rolling hills of New York’s Hudson Valley—a patch of earth as rugged as the young man who grew up on it. Hard work was gospel; faith, his backbone. Raised in a modest family with a strong Catholic foundation, DeGlopper carried a silent code, forged in early morning drills and Sunday prayers alike.

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

This verse was not just words to him. It was a benchmark—a standard he’d meet in the hellfire of war.

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

Just three days after D-Day, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment landed deep behind enemy lines near Sainte-Mère-Église. The fight was chaos. German positions tightened like a noose. DeGlopper’s Company B moved across open fields toward the bridge at La Fière to prevent the enemy from flanking the American beachhead.

On June 9, the advance stalled. The Germans counterattacked fiercely. Under intense machine gun and rifle fire, the American units started to pull back.

There, on a small ridge, DeGlopper saw his company exposed and withdrawing under fire. Without orders, without hesitation, he rose and charged forward.

His M1 rifle cracked repeatedly against the German line. He drew their fire away from his comrades, buying precious minutes for their retreat to regather. Despite the chaos, DeGlopper held that ground tenaciously—alone—knowing full well he was a beacon for enemy fire.

His courage was a torch in the dark, but the cost was immense. Hit multiple times, he refused to fall. He kept firing until he finally went silent.

Recognition: Medal of Honor

DeGlopper died on that ridge, just 23 years old. His death was no accident—it was a deliberate act of sacrifice.

The Medal of Honor citation says:

Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty... He alone stood exposed to intense fire, covering his unit’s withdrawal. Pfc. DeGlopper was killed in action as a direct result of this heroism.[^1]

Lt. Col. Robert Sink, commander of the 506th, called him:

“A man who gave his life so others could live... a lasting example of courage.”

Legacy and Lessons: A Quiet Redemption in Blood

There is no glory without sacrifice. DeGlopper’s actions are etched in the scarred memory of Normandy, a reminder that freedom is bought with blood and unyielding courage.

He died against impossible odds—not for glory, but for his brothers in arms. In a war that swallowed millions, his stand on a mud-slicked ridge stands tall.

He is the soldier who never faltered, who made his life a shield.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions... and by his wounds, we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5

His legacy is a quiet gospel of sacrifice, a call to live with honor in a world too often tarnished by fear.

Charles N. DeGlopper’s story demands respect. He reminds us all—vet and civilian alike—that valor isn’t loud. It’s resolute and costly. And redemption comes in the blood of those who stand, so others might run free.

[^1]: U.S. Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II" [^2]: Richard Freeze, "The Black Devils at La Fière", 506th PIR History [^3]: Lt. Col. Robert F. Sink, Command Reports, 1944