Charles N. DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero at La Fière

Feb 06 , 2026

Charles N. DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero at La Fière

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a jagged ridge, the sky darkened by tracer rounds and the screams of war. Every step backward meant another comrade’s life at risk. When the line shattered beneath the enemy’s storm of bullets, he became the shield, the shockwave absorbing the hellfire so others could live. That day, June 9, 1944, near La Fière Bridge, France, his sacrifice etched a legacy of courage no bullet could silence.

The Roots of a Soldier and a Servant

Born November 6, 1921, in Selden, New York, DeGlopper was a man cut from simple cloth. Raised in a working class family where faith and perseverance blended into daily bread, he carried humility as a weapon in itself. The soft-spoken young man found strength in scripture early: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). That wasn’t just words to him—it was a calling.

Before suiting up, Charles worked the land and learned the value of resolve. When war whispered its summons, he answered without hesitation. Drafted into the 82nd Airborne Division, he embodied the quiet grit expected in the “All-American” paratroopers. His faith and code, forged in small-town America, squared with the harsh demands of combat honor.

Holding the Line at La Fière

The morning sun barely pierced the mist as soldiers of Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne, pressed forward. Their mission: secure the La Fière causeway over the Merderet River, open a path for Allied forces post-D-Day. But German defenses dug in deep with machine guns, mortars, and snipers.

Chaos crashed down when enemy fire fractured the line. Men fell, and withdrawal seemed inevitable. DeGlopper realized the retreat would be a slaughter unless someone stayed. Moving forward under direct fire, he manned an exposed machine gun and unleashed with relentless fury. For ten brutal, lonely minutes, his body took every hit so others could cross the bridge to safety.

Witnesses reported his gun blazing even as he collapsed, bleeding and broken. “His action gave his comrades time to escape,” recorded the Medal of Honor citation. “Sergeant DeGlopper never hesitated in the face of mortal danger.”

Medal of Honor: Valor beyond Measure

On August 30, 1944, Charles N. DeGlopper was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor—the United States’ highest military decoration. His citation details his selfless stand that day:

“By his gallant action and indomitable courage in the face of heavy fire, Sgt. DeGlopper saved many lives and gave his unit the time necessary to withdraw to a safe position. His intrepid heroism and utter disregard for his own personal safety exemplify the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.”

Commanders and comrades alike spoke of a warrior who acted not for glory but out of brotherhood and duty. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Crockett said simply, “Charles died doing what all good soldiers do—protecting his own.”

A Legacy Written in Blood and Honor

DeGlopper’s sacrifice is more than a tale of war—it is a solemn testament to the true cost of freedom. His name graces memorials, a bridge in his hometown, and a chapel where prayers echo for the fallen. Beyond medals and monuments lies a lesson carved in scarred earth:

True courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s facing death for the sake of another.

For veterans carrying their own burdens and civilians wrestling with sacrifice’s meaning, Charles' story rings eternal. The line he held was more than terrain—it was the fragile edge between chaos and salvation.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) He embodied this in the fiercest fire, offering peace through sacrifice. His blood baptized a path for liberty that others walk today.

We owe him more than memory. We owe him action—honoring those who fight now, who suffer still, by never forgetting the price paid on those cruel fields. Charles N. DeGlopper fought so we might live. That charge echoes beyond history, calling all of us to stand firm, bear witness, and carry forward the torch of redemption.