Dec 19 , 2025
Charles N. DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero of Normandy
Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on a ridge, the world around him chaos. Bullets tore through air, mortar shells slammed earth, and every step forward bled pain. But he held his ground—holding back an enemy tide—so his brothers in the 3rd Infantry Division could fall back. One man. One fearless act. One last stand that cost him his life but saved many.
The Boy from Rensselaer
Charles never sought glory. Born in Rensselaer, New York, he was a farm boy, raised on values hammered in by hard work and faith. A product of small-town America where duty wasn’t a word, it was a way of life. Raised in a deeply religious household, Charles held close the scripture that would guide him into battle and beyond:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13
His faith wasn’t just words recited; it was a backbone for steel resolve and the courage to face impossible odds. Charles enlisted in 1942, joining the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division—men who knew death was part of their job description.
The Crucible of Normandy
June 9, 1944. Three days after D-Day, the battle-hardened units of the 3rd Infantry Division pushed inland through Normandy. The Germans fought tooth and nail, turning the hedgerows into killing fields.
DeGlopper and his squad faced a brutal enemy counterattack near the town of la Fière. The German advance threatened to overrun American positions, threatening to annihilate their regiment’s foothold.
With his unit forced to fall back under crushing fire, DeGlopper saw the paths of retreat congested, men trapped, and deadlier German ground closing fast.
Without orders, without hesitation, he sprinted forward—alone—into a hailstorm of machine-gun fire to draw enemy attention.
He stood, firing his M1 rifle, slowing the Germans, picking off targets. His position was a bullet magnet. Each second he held cost him dearly.
One eyewitness said:
“DeGlopper fired from an exposed position, drawing the enemy’s fire so the rest of the men could retreat safely.”[^1]
When the last man slipped away, Charles himself fell mortally wounded. His sacrifice bought time, lives, and saved his unit from annihilation.
Honoring the Fallen Warrior
For his extraordinary valor, Charles N. DeGlopper was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation plainly states:
“[DeGlopper] chose to remain in an exposed position to cover the withdrawal of his comrades. His actions materially delayed the enemy advance and contributed to the success of his unit’s withdrawal.”[^2]
Commanders reflected on his quiet bravery, the selfless heart beating beneath the uniform.
Major General Charles H. Corlett said in a report:
“Private DeGlopper’s actions exemplify the highest ideals of soldiering and sacrifice.”[^3]
He never knew the full extent of his impact. His name engraved on the Tablets of the Missing in Normandy, but his story lives on as a beacon of warrior spirit.
The Blood Price and the Living Legacy
Charles’ stand wasn’t a reckless gambit. It was a mission born of trust, honor, and the sacred duty to shield his brothers at all costs.
The battlefield does not grant second chances, and the weight of sacrifice is heavy. Every bullet that found him echoes through history, a reminder of the price demanded by freedom.
He leaves us a stark lesson: Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s pressing forward despite it—believing in something greater than yourself.
His sacrifice is a scripture etched in dirt and blood, quoting life after life when men face impossible choices:
“Be not afraid: for I am with thee.” – Isaiah 41:10
Charles DeGlopper’s name adorns schools, bridges, and memorials. But it is the memory of the man—the soldier who gave everything so others might live—that roars loudest.
To walk in the shadows of a man like DeGlopper is to understand the meaning of legacy forged in fire. To honor him, we carry forward courage, sacrifice, and the unforgiving reality that freedom is paid for in full—with lives like his.
His blood waters the soil for future generations, his story a constant call to stand firm when the moment demands it.
[^1]: Gailey, Harry A. The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment in WWII, University Press of Kentucky.
[^2]: United States Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor citation for Charles N. DeGlopper.
[^3]: Corlett, Charles H., Command Report to 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, June 1944.
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