Charles N. DeGlopper Medal of Honor for Normandy Sacrifice

Feb 20 , 2026

Charles N. DeGlopper Medal of Honor for Normandy Sacrifice

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone against a flood of enemy fire. Bullets sliced the air, screams echoed, and death stalked the swollen banks of the Merderet River. His unit was retreating—and only one man stood between them and annihilation.

The Bloodied Baptism of War

Born in Albany, New York, 1921, DeGlopper grew under steady skies but harsh realities. A working-class kid, toughened by grit and guided by faith—a devout Catholic who carried scripture close to his heart.

“I come from a place where a man’s word ain’t just sound—it’s his soul,” his friends said. That code wouldn’t bend in the face of war.

Drafted into the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, he traded peaceful fields for the hell of Europe during World War II.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944—D-Day plus three. While the world focused on Normandy’s beaches, squad-level warfare burned in the hedgerows.

DeGlopper’s platoon was tasked with holding a crossing over the Merderet River near La Fière, France. The enemy surged with machine guns, artillery, and hatred aimed to cut the Airborne’s lifeline.

The order: fall back.

As comrades retreated under blistering fire, DeGlopper stayed behind—his rifle loaded with five magazines, his stance like a grim sentinel. He fired round after round into the German advance, buying time with raw willpower and bloody determination.

By the end, he’d been shot multiple times. But his sacrifice halted the enemy, saved countless lives, and ensured a foothold for the 82nd Airborne that day.

Recognition for Valor Beyond Measure

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor—America’s highest military honor—DeGlopper’s citation reads:

“With utter disregard for his own life, he delivered devastating rifle fire against the advancing enemy, thereby enabling members of his platoon to reach safety.”

General Matthew Ridgway, Supreme Allied Commander of the 82nd Airborne, called his actions “a shining example of self-sacrifice and valor.”

His company commander said simply: “Chuck was the backbone—the man who gave us hope when all seemed lost.”

The Legacy Burned into Our Souls

DeGlopper’s story isn’t just about heroism—it’s about what separates men from legends.

He carried the weight of war like a cross, but never let it break him.

His sacrifice reminds warriors and civilians alike that the price of freedom is paid in blood and bone.

Psalm 23:4 echoes through his memory:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

His name adorns a bridge near La Fière, a modest monument to a man who gave everything—a singular soul standing against the tide.

The battlefield does not forget those who hold the line when all else flees.

Charles N. DeGlopper died so others could live. His story endures—etched in steel, scripture, and the unyielding spirit of every combat veteran who understands that courage is not born—it is forged in fire, sacrifice, and faith.

The true measure of a soldier lies not in medals, but in the legacy they leave bleeding in the dirt beneath their boots. DeGlopper’s legacy is the echo of a warrior’s heart still beating in us all.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citations: World War II 2. Steven E. Ambrose, United States Army: The Military Service of the 82nd Airborne Division 3. Matthew B. Ridgway, Soldier: The Memoirs of Matthew B. Ridgway