Feb 05 , 2026
Charles DeGlopper's Stand at Les Coates Ridge, Normandy
Blood on the muddy ground. Bullets tearing the air.
Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone, the fading light casting long shadows over the choking fields of Normandy, 1944. His rifle cracked like thunder, each shot a heartbeat of defiance. The enemy was closing in. His unit was retreating—dying to live, but dying all the same. DeGlopper didn't hesitate. He stayed. Held the line with everything he had until his dying breath. Because some men carry more than guns—they bear the weight of others’ survival.
The Roots of a Warrior
Born in Mechanicville, New York, Charles DeGlopper was raised with a clear gospel of duty and honor. A son of the heartland, he grew up in a time when faith and country were inseparable. His family’s values were unshakable—walk the straight path, and stand unwavering when the storm hits.
Not much is written about sermons or prayers, but the quiet strength in his letters home speaks volumes. A soldier's creed lived out in the streets and fields where he trained—to protect the man beside you, no matter the cost.
His faith was never loud, but it was steel in his veins: an unspoken assurance that sacrifice was never in vain. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13) wasn't just scripture to DeGlopper—it was a war journal writ in flesh and blood.
Standing Alone at Les Coates Ridge
June 9, 1944. Three days after D-Day.
DeGlopper’s unit, Company C of the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, was tasked with taking and holding Les Coates Ridge, near the town of Sainte-Mère-Église. The objective was brutal. German machine guns and artillery smashed everything in their path.
As the men advanced, enemy counterattacks rained down with merciless precision. The Americans’ hold was faltering. Orders came down to pull back. Withdrawal is a bitter pill, but sometimes the only choice for survival.
DeGlopper saw his comrades retreating, but he did something no man takes lightly—he turned back. Alone. Exposed. To cover their movement, to buy time for his brothers to live, he raised his rifle and opened fire.
The sniper’s nest, machine gun crews, and infantry charged at him. One by one, they were silenced. His team’s retreat stretched out in front of him. His bullets were cries for survival, each shot a prayer for the men behind.
And then—pinned down and surrounded—DeGlopper fell.
This act wasn’t reckless heroism. It was calculated selflessness. A final stand carved deep into the history books.
Medal of Honor: A Brotherhood Remembered
Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 2, 1944, DeGlopper’s citation captures the brutal courage of that ridge:
“With utter disregard for his personal safety, [he] stood in the open in full view of the enemy firing continuously to cover the withdrawal of his comrades. His courageous action delayed the advance of the enemy despite intense fire and was instrumental in the successful withdrawal of his company.”
Survivors spoke of his unwavering resolve. Captain R. W. Hasbrouck said, “There is no question Charlie saved many lives by sacrificing his own.” Fellow infantrymen recalled his calm under hellfire, the quiet confidence that steadied panicked nerves.
The medal didn’t just honor a man—it enshrined the brutal cost of combat, the ultimate expression of brotherhood.
Beyond the Badge: The Enduring Warrior’s Spirit
DeGlopper’s story is etched into the American soul—not as a distant hero, but as a man who chose death over desertion, who stood when running would have been easier.
His sacrifice echoes through every generation of soldiers who face that gut-wrenching choice—stand fast, or run for safety. The blood he spilled wasn’t just to slow an enemy. It was to protect a promise: no man gets left behind.
His legacy lives on at Fort Benning, Georgia, where the Charles N. DeGlopper Jr., Hall stands as a solemn reminder of grit and grace beneath fire.
“For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught,” (Proverbs 3:26). DeGlopper trusted that confidence. He gave his all so others could keep fighting.
He was a soldier—marked by sacrifice, baptized by war.
But in his death, he gave life—to a legacy that transcends time and echoes in hearts who know what it means to stand up, stand firm, and never fall alone.
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