Charles DeGlopper's Sacrifice and Medal of Honor at Normandy

Dec 19 , 2025

Charles DeGlopper's Sacrifice and Medal of Honor at Normandy

Blood, mud, and steel. The roar of German fire shatters the French countryside. Men fall all around. And there—alone, exposed—Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper stands in a fleeting pocket of chaos. Suddenly, he opens fire.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. Just three days after D-Day, the 82nd Airborne Division slashes deep behind enemy lines near Normandy’s Merderet River. The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment is pinned, pinned hard, as German forces counterattack to cut off the American vanguard.

DeGlopper’s squad is ordered to retreat across the river. The current swells cold and cruel. The only bridge is destroyed. Enemy fire tears at the men as they move—a slippery, desperate withdrawal under Hell’s own crosshairs.

Without hesitation, DeGlopper moves forward alone. He lays down suppressive fire with a Browning Automatic Rifle. His single task: hold back the enemy long enough for his comrades to escape. Machine guns boom. Bullets slam his position. Still, he fights on.

Shot multiple times, refusing to quit—DeGlopper buys his unit crucial minutes. Witnesses say he stood, unflinching, until he fell. His sacrifice saved lives, secured the retreat, and left an indelible mark on that hellscape. He died that day, fighting for those who would live.

Background & Faith

Born April 2, 1921, in Troy, New York, Charles DeGlopper grew strong on hard work and quiet faith. Raised in a Catholic home, he carried a Soldier’s code steeped in humility, courage, and duty to others above self.

Letters home revealed a man who wrestled with fear and hope alike—“God is with me in this,” he wrote, clinging to Psalms for strength. Faith was not comfort alone, but a weapon against despair: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

This steadfast belief forged a warrior intent on protecting his brothers, beyond self-preservation.

The Crucible of Combat

At Normandy, the “Battle for the Merderet,” a brutal contest between steel and spirit, tested DeGlopper’s mettle. The unit’s official Medal of Honor citation describes the chaos:

“When his company was ordered to withdraw across the Merderet River at La Fière, he volunteered to cover the withdrawal... exposing himself to devastating enemy fire which ultimately took his life."

He advanced into the open, firing his BAR to disrupt enemy machine gun nests. Despite heavy fire and multiple wounds, he refused to fall back until his comrades were safe across the river.

The terrain offered no mercy—mud, water, and barbed wire tangled men’s limbs. Yet DeGlopper pushed forward. His action was not a reckless charge but a conscious sacrifice. He understood his death would save others.

Recognition: Medal of Honor

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945, DeGlopper joined the hallowed ranks of valor. General Ridgway called the Normandy campaign “a great victory in difficult circumstances.” Within that chaos, DeGlopper's stand stood as a beacon.

His citation, read to his grieving family, echoed the brutal truth of war: courage is costly; honor is carved in flesh.

Combat veterans from the 325th remember him as “the man who didn’t hesitate.” His sacrifice was selfless—an act of pure brotherhood.

Legacy & Lessons

Charles DeGlopper’s name is etched on monuments and school plaques, but his real legacy pulses through every act of warrior selflessness since.

To take a field under fire, knowing death is probable, requires a fierce spirit. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

His story confronts us with the raw truth of sacrifice—not glory, not fame—but the quiet, brutal choice to bear the burden so others survive.

In every veteran’s scar lies a fragment of Charles’ courage. Every battlefield, no matter the era, echoes his message: We owe our freedoms to those who stand in the fire, shield us with their lives, and never flinch.

The war’s rubble fades over decades, but the spirit of men like DeGlopper transcends time. Remember him—not just as a name on a medal, but as a brother who stood fast when darkness threatened.

His sacrifice calls us to something sacred: to honor not just valor, but the cost of peace. To hold close those who carry scars invisible to the world.

Not every hero returns. Some remain in the fire, guarding the rest of us still.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. 82nd Airborne Division Association, The Battle for the Merderet: Normandy Campaign, June 1944 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Charles N. DeGlopper Citation and Biography 4. Letters and personal accounts archived by the National WWII Museum, Correspondence of Charles N. DeGlopper Jr.