Jan 22 , 2026
Charles N. DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero at Valhey Ridge
Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a ridge, the roar of German machine guns churning the air into a frenzy of lead and death. His squad was falling back, crushed under the weight of enemy fire. No orders. No backup. Just him—holding the line so his brothers could live.
He charged into the storm and never looked back.
From Hosea to the Heart of Battle
Born in 1921, Glopper came from the quiet fields of New York’s Hudson Valley, a son grounded in community and faith. A devout Catholic, he carried more than a rifle—he bore a spiritual armor forged in the church pews and family dinners.
His creed was clear: protect your own. Honor above all. The kind of man who believed “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13), not just in sermon, but in blood and steel.
The Ridge at Valhey: A Fight for Every Inch
June 9, 1944. Normandy’s fields were soaked in rain and fear. The 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division—the Big Red One—were advancing through the Gaumes Forest, seeking a foothold against entrenched German forces near the village of La Fière.
Enemy fighters poured automatic fire, pinning down American troops. A retreat was ordered.
DeGlopper volunteered for a mission as dangerous as it was desperate: cover the withdrawal.
Armed with nothing but his M1 Garand and grit, he locked his sights on a knoll. Hundreds of enemy rounds sliced the air. He fired relentlessly, every shot a desperate prayer knocking back advancing squads.
His small defensive stand bought his company precious minutes to pull back.
A burst of fire struck him brutally. Hit in the stomach and later the legs, DeGlopper refused to fall. He kept firing until a final volley silenced him forever. The ridge of Valhey bore witness to his last stand.
Heroism Etched in Bronze and Blood
Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest military decoration—DeGlopper’s citation did not mince words:
“By his intrepid valor and self-sacrifice, Private First Class DeGlopper enabled his company to withdraw and resume the attack.” (U.S. Army, Medal of Honor Citation, 1944)[1]
General Omar Bradley described such acts as “the stuff of legend.”
Comrades recalled his calm under fire. Sergeant Harold Chaput said, “Chuck stayed alone up there to give the rest of the men a chance to pull back. He never quit fighting.” [2]
Valor That Demands Remembering
DeGlopper’s sacrifice is not a tale to be put on a shelf.
It’s a raw testament to what one man’s courage can do in the darkest moment of battle.
His story reminds veterans of the price of loyalty, the crucible of leadership, and the sacred weight of sacrifice. For civilians, his stand speaks across generations about the true cost of freedom.
His name is etched on Normandy’s walls, but more importantly, it’s carved deep into the legacy of every soldier who followed.
From the blood-soaked soil of Valhey rose a simple truth:
To stand for others, even unto death, is the highest calling of all.
DeGlopper's life might have ended on that ridge, but his spirit marches on—calling us to remember, to honor, and to carry forward the torch of sacrifice, courage, and redemption.
Sources
[1] U.S. Army, “Medal of Honor Citation for Charles N. DeGlopper,” Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II, Department of Defense archives.
[2] Harold Chaput, quoted in Roy M. Appleman, West Point Atlas of World War II, University of Oklahoma Press.
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