Feb 04 , 2026

Charles N. DeGlopper and His Normandy Medal of Honor Legacy

Hellfire cracked over the hills of Normandy. Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone, gunned down by machine guns in the cruel rain, weapon blazing—not to survive, but so others might live. The ground around him churned with death, but he held his position, a single man against a storm.

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A Boy from New York, Hardened by Duty

Born in 1921, Charles grew up in Mechanicville, New York. A working-class kid with a straightforward heart and quiet courage. The streets taught him grit; his faith taught him purpose.

His family’s Christian values weren’t just words. They were armor—“love your neighbor as yourself,” not in empty sermons but in the hard labor of life.

He enlisted, not for glory, but because he knew what it meant to protect and sacrifice. Charles carried that old soldier’s code—“leave no man behind.” That code carried him into Hell on Earth.

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

Two days after D-Day, DeGlopper’s unit was tasked to secure a crucial crossroads near the town of Saint-Lô. The 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, was scattered, softened by relentless German counterattacks.

The enemy poured fire into their ranks, forcing a withdrawal. But the men had to retreat under near-impossible conditions. A lapse meant slaughter.

DeGlopper took it upon himself to cover their fallback. With no hesitation, he sprinted across an open wheat field—bones-breaking bullets tearing the air—to grab a Browning Automatic Rifle.

One man. Mowed-down grass and splintering earth. His BAR roared like a beast, pinning the enemy forces long enough for his comrades to escape the trap.

He was hit multiple times. Still firing. Still advancing.

He died where he fought: holding ground, buying life for others.

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Recognition: A Medal Well Earned

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on November 8, 1944, Charles N. DeGlopper’s citation doesn’t mince words. It reads:

“With utter disregard for his life, and in a magnificent display of courage, Private DeGlopper voluntarily remained in an exposed position… and continued to place devastating fire on the enemy, thereby enabling his company to withdraw safely.”

His sacrifice was not in vain. That crossroads stayed in American hands.

“It is the supreme act of bravery,” said his battalion commander, Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort. “DeGlopper gave his life so others might live. That is the heart of what we fight for.”

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Legacy Etched in Blood and Honor

DeGlopper’s story is carved into the landscape of American military history—not just as a heroic death, but as a beacon for all who stand between chaos and order.

His hometown named a bridge after him—the Charles DeGlopper Memorial Bridge, a solemn gesture. The 508th’s history books sing his name alongside those who understand sacrifice is more than a word.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). DeGlopper lived it, breathed it, died for it.

His legacy echoes beyond medals and monuments. It teaches us about the cost of freedom. About the brothers we protect even when the universe turns hostile.

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Charles N. DeGlopper was not just a casualty of war. He was a sentinel in the darkest hour—a man who chose God, country, and brotherhood over life itself.

He stands as a testament, a blood-stained reminder that sacrifice turns a man into legend, and legends are the soul of a nation enduring through every battle.

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