Charles DeGlopper's Sacrifice at Normandy Ridge, Medal of Honor

Feb 14 , 2026

Charles DeGlopper's Sacrifice at Normandy Ridge, Medal of Honor

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on that ridge, a patch of smoke and fear swirling around him. The enemy hammered his men with artillery and bullets. Retreat was the order—but to move meant death for the stragglers. DeGlopper stayed. With every round from his BAR, he bought his comrades seconds. Seconds that became lives. He made that last stand knowing it would cost him everything.

The Roots of a Soldier

Born in Mechanicville, New York, 1921, Charles grew up on simple values—hard work, family, faith. The son of a working man, he carried a quiet, steady strength fewer noticed until the moment his uniform went on. Raised Presbyterian, his faith wasn’t just words. It was armor beneath the skin, grounding him with purpose.

He carried a soldier’s code steeped in duty and sacrifice. His actions whispered of a man who believed in something larger than himself—a brotherhood where every man had a price to pay. “Greater love hath no man than this,” scripture said, and Charles lived it on that battlefield[1].

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. Just days after D-Day, the 82nd Airborne Division fought to break German defenses near Sainte-Mère-Église, France. DeGlopper, part of Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, landed in chaos and swiftly moved to hold the line on a ridge overlooking the Merderet River. The enemy closed in.

His squad received orders to withdraw and regroup. But across the river, comrades struggled to cross under heavy fire. DeGlopper noticed German soldiers advancing. Without hesitation, he engaged fully exposed, firing his Browning Automatic Rifle into the oncoming enemy.

His suppressive fire pinned the attackers, drawing their focus away from the retreating men. Bullets tore through his body, but he kept firing. One last burst. Then silence. He died protecting the lives of others.

His sacrifice enabled his unit to reorganize and continue the push inland. A small ridge, a single defender, a bought moment that rippled outward.

Honors Earned in Blood

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on November 19, 1944, DeGlopper’s citation honors his valor[2]:

“With unsurpassed heroism, Private DeGlopper remained in the most exposed position...fired continuously...inflicted heavy casualties...sacrificed his life to check the enemy’s advance.”

Commanders and men remembered his courage. General Matthew Ridgway called such heroism the backbone of victory. Comrades spoke of a quiet man whose death was loud with meaning.

His family received the medal, but also an unspoken burden—the weight every survivor carries when a hero falls. His name etched forever at the Normandy American Cemetery, a somber shrine to those who pay that ultimate price.

Legacy Woven in Sacrifice

Charles N. DeGlopper’s story is more than a WWII footnote. It stands as a testament to raw, unflinching sacrifice under fire—a soldier choosing death over desertion. In his fight, we witness the primal value of protecting brothers at all costs. That ridge, soaked in blood, reminds us courage isn’t the absence of fear but the resolve to act regardless.

His life asks us what we owe those who serve. The battlefield scrawls a brutal scripture of sacrifice. And redemption is found not just in medals, but in carrying forward the torch—in honoring the broken and scarred by how we live and remember.

“He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” — Psalm 91:11

Charles DeGlopper’s name is written in that promise. Not just as fallen soldier, but as a sentinel watching over us, his sacrifice a beacon through the dark. May we never forget the price paid for every free breath we take.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients, World War II: Charles N. DeGlopper 2. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Charles N. DeGlopper Citation