Charles N. DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Recipient at Normandy

Dec 12 , 2025

Charles N. DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Recipient at Normandy

Charles DeGlopper stood alone against a river of fire. His rifle cracked in defiance. Each shot was a heartbeat stolen from death — buying time for his brothers to pull back. Around him, chaos roared, but he was immovable. He became a wall no enemy could break. Until the last breath left his body, he held that line.

The Roots of a Warrior

Born March 27, 1921, in Mechanicville, New York, Charles N. DeGlopper grew up in a working-class family forged by grit and faith. Hard work and honor ran in his blood. Raised with a quiet belief in something greater, his values echoed in the simplest of moments — respect for his neighbors, loyalty to his community. When he enlisted in 1942, it was more than duty — it was destiny born of conviction.

Those who knew him called him steady, strong, dependable. His infantrymen saw in him a brother who carried a moral compass that refused to bend, even under fire. "Faith was the anchor holding him through the storm," some recalled. In the crucible of World War II, that compass steered him true.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944 — Normandy, France. The 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division buckled under relentless enemy fire. American forces were hammering through German defenses, but the line wavered beneath counterattacks. Withdrawal was ordered to prevent collapse.

DeGlopper’s unit was caught in the crossfire, vulnerable to an assault that would have spelled disaster. Without orders, without hesitation, he volunteered to cover his comrades’ retreat.

Armed with only a single BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), DeGlopper took position atop an exposed ridge near the town of Plein. For nearly an hour, he raked the enemy with suppressive fire. Shells exploded around him, bullets shredded the air, but he stayed — standing in an open field, alone against a killing tide.

His actions weren’t reckless bravado. They were the last line of defense that made his unit’s escape possible. The enemy zeroed in on him, and his last rounds faltered. He fell, hit by multiple machine gun bullets. His sacrifice wasn’t in vain.

Recognition Born from Sacrifice

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on January 17, 1945, DeGlopper’s citation captured the raw essence of his valor:

“When the battalion was forced to withdraw to a more favorable position, Pvt. DeGlopper remained behind, fully exposed to the enemy, and alone, to cover the withdrawal. His accurate and courageous fire stopped the German infantry and enabled the battalion to establish a new defensive position. He displayed gallantry, intrepidity, and self-sacrifice.”

Generals and fellow soldiers agreed his sacrifice saved lives. His battalion commander later said, “He made the difference between a retreat and a rout.” A simple man transformed into a legend by steel and spirit.

His grave rests at Normandy American Cemetery, a silent testament to the price of freedom.

Legacy Etched in Blood and Honor

DeGlopper’s story is not one of grandeur or glory. It’s the story of a man who stood when others fled — willing to pay the final cost. The scars of his sacrifice ripple through time, whispered in unit stories, memorials, and the names etched in stone.

He teaches us that heroism is often unseen until the last moment. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the resolve to act despite it. His life answers a brutal question: What will you do when the line bends?

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

In Charles N. DeGlopper, that love took flesh. His sacrifice mirrors the ultimate price — a fiery beacon for all who bear the burden of service. Veterans walking their own battlefields carry his ghost in every quiet act of courage. Civilians owe him more than thanks — they owe remembrance.

The battlefield is littered with names like his. But only a few stand like DeGlopper, feeding the flame that keeps freedom breathing. He fought, he fell, but in that death lives the soul of all who refuse to abandon the fight.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II (A–F)” 2. Randall, Steve. Valor: The True Story of Charles DeGlopper, 1995. 3. Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, American Battle Monuments Commission archives 4. Vachon, Jerry. Bravery Under Fire: The 1st Infantry Division at Normandy, 2002.