Charles N. DeGlopper, Normandy hero who saved his squad

Nov 14 , 2025

Charles N. DeGlopper, Normandy hero who saved his squad

Bullets tore through the morning haze. Explosions shattered the silence of Normandy’s Saint-Lô countryside. Somewhere beneath the hellfire, Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone, a single man against a storm. His voice never faltered as he fired into the enemy, buying his squad’s retreat. He did not hesitate. Not once. The price: his life. But in that sacrifice, hope—raw, desperate—shone through.

The Boy from Schroon Lake

Charles Norman DeGlopper grew where the woods swallow the Adirondacks, in the small town of Schroon Lake, New York. A farm boy with calloused hands and an unyielding spirit. He joined the Army in 1942, answering a country’s desperate call.

Faith was a quiet anchor for Charles. Raised in a modest Methodist household, he absorbed lessons of duty and grace. The code was clear: put others first. Protect your own. A warrior’s creed steeped in humility and service, not pride or glory.

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

That verse was not mere words to DeGlopper. It was a mission.

The Battle That Defined Him

July 30, 1944. The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, pushed into Normandy’s tangled hedgerows, trying to take the strategically vital town of Saint-Lô.

The Americans advanced through choking brush, their progress slow and deadly. Enemy machine guns ripped through the trees. The men were pinned, outgunned, and vulnerable.

Charles’s platoon struck the brunt of a furious German counterattack. Chaos reigned. Men fell by the dozen. Retreat was the only option—except the retreat could cost more lives if they left the enemy unchecked.

DeGlopper made a choice. He volunteered to cover the withdrawal.

Alone, in the open, he seized a Browning Automatic Rifle and stood his ground against withering fire. Despite wounds and exhaustion, he kept firing until a burst struck him down.

His suppressive fire halted the German advance long enough for his comrades to reach safety.

Medal of Honor Citation

The Medal of Honor citation for Charles N. DeGlopper reads like a testament forged in fire:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Colleville-sur-Mer, France... single-handedly covered his platoon’s withdrawal... killed while outstandingly fulfilling the mission.”

General James M. Gavin, commander of the 82nd Airborne, later reflected on DeGlopper:

“Sergeant DeGlopper’s courage was the highest example of selflessness we saw in Normandy. His actions saved many men’s lives.”

Medals and names fade. What remains is the imprint of valor on the hearts of those left behind.

Legacy of a Fallen Warrior

Charles N. DeGlopper’s body rests in the Normandy American Cemetery. But his story lives—etched in the stones and whispers of veterans who understand blood debts and brotherhood.

His sacrifice underscores an ugly truth about war: heroism demands the ultimate price. Yet in surrendering himself, DeGlopper offered a narrative not about death, but about faith lived in the direst moment.

We cannot erase the scars of battle, but we honor them by remembering men like DeGlopper, who embodied courage so fierce it stopped an enemy.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

In a world too quick to forget the cost of freedom, Sergeant Charles N. DeGlopper stands as a beacon—scarred, steady, and eternal. His life whispers to every warrior and civilian: There is a price for peace, and it is paid by men who understand sacrifice.

May we carry their legacy with reverence and resolve.