Charles DeGlopper's Sacrifice at La Fiere, Normandy

Jan 02 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper's Sacrifice at La Fiere, Normandy

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a ridge, the whine of bullets stitching the air around him. His squad was falling back. The enemy closed in like a thousand shadows. He was the last line, the shield between death and his brothers. One man, one rifle, against a storm of fire. His grenade launcher was empty, but his resolve was not. He chose to stay, to fight, to die so they could live.

The Roots of a Warrior

Born in 1921, Charles DeGlopper grew up in Ticonderoga, New York. A hard-working kid shaped by the grip of the Depression and the call of duty, he carried a quiet strength. Not the loud bravado of some, but a steady, unshakable backbone. A man who lived by a code heavier than any uniform. Faith was his underpinning—he knew a greater plan guided him through chaos.

Family, community, church—these were the bedrock of his life. He believed in sacrifice, in giving everything for something larger than himself. The scripture that must have burned in his heart:

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

His resolve was forged early, tempered by the expectation that when called, a man must stand.

The Battle That Defined Him

August 18, 1944, Normandy. The 82nd Airborne, including DeGlopper's 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, fought tooth and nail amid the hedgerows and ruined farms. Their mission: to hold a crucial bridgehead over the Eure River near La Fière. Retreat was not an option—but it became a bitter necessity when German forces counterattacked fiercely.

DeGlopper’s platoon was ordered to withdraw. But the enemy was relentless—front and flank. To cover the retreat, DeGlopper volunteered for a desperate gambit. Armed with only a single BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), he positioned himself on an exposed slope. The bullet rain intensified. Machine guns roared. He unleashed a torrent of suppressive fire, forcing the Germans to hesitate, buying precious seconds.

His squad made it back across the river, scrambling for safety. He was still out there, standing fast—firing, yelling, dying inch by inch under the storm. Wounded and out of ammo, he charged with his rifle as a club for the last stand.

He died alone, but his deeds saved his comrades.

“Private DeGlopper's gallantry and intrepidity … over and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, materially helped in the successful withdrawal.” — Medal of Honor Citation

Recognition Etched in Valor

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on February 9, 1946, DeGlopper’s citation was stark yet profound. It didn’t blush with praise but told the raw truth of sacrifice and valor.

General Matthew Ridgway, 82nd Airborne Division commander, called DeGlopper’s action the defining moment at La Fière. Fellow soldiers barely dared speak of it—too raw, too real. The man who gave his life to hold the line became a symbol, a beacon for all paratroopers who followed.

Memorials bear his name. The bridge near La Fière officially honors his stand. The Medal of Honor Museum keeps his story alive, reminding every generation: this was a man who embodied sacrifice.

Legacy of a Brother’s Keeper

Charles DeGlopper’s story is not one of glory but of grit. The grit it takes to choose certain death over desertion of duty. The enduring pain carried silently by his comrades who survived. The lesson seared into every battlefield journal ever written after.

To die for your brothers is the deepest bond forged in war. It’s the language of men who have seen the worst and know the cost of failure. It is a statement of faith in humanity amid carnage.

His final moments echo John 15:13—a reminder of the greatest love, the ultimate sacrifice.

For every soldier who carries his story, Charles is a ghost of courage whispering: Stay the line. Protect your brothers. Live with honor.

His blood stained that slope, but his legacy cleansed the darkness.

When the guns fall silent, and the dust settles, it's men like Charles N. DeGlopper who remind us that sacrifice is not in vain. It is the foundation upon which freedom stands.

Sources

1. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Citation, Charles N. DeGlopper 2. 82nd Airborne Division Association, The Bloody Bridge: La Fière and the 504th PIR 3. Ridgway, Matthew B., Soldier: The Memoirs of Matthew B. Ridgway (1956) 4. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Charles N. DeGlopper Profile