Charles N. DeGlopper, Normandy Sergeant Who Gave His Life

Dec 06 , 2025

Charles N. DeGlopper, Normandy Sergeant Who Gave His Life

Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone on that shattered ridge, bullets tearing the air, smoke choking the morning light. His squad was gone—cut down or forced back. But he stayed. One man became a wall of steel, willing to die so others might live. The enemy’s fury did not relent. Neither did he.

From Schroon Lake to the Shadows of War

Born in 1921 in the quiet backwoods of New York, Charles was forged on simple values: hard work, faith, and loyalty. Raised in Schroon Lake, his world was small but steadfast. His mother’s prayers and his own quiet resolve laid the foundation for a code that would never bend.

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

DeGlopper carried that scripture—not just as words, but as a battle hymn etched into his soul. When the world erupted into violence, he stepped forward without hesitation.

The Battle That Sealed His Name — Normandy, June 9, 1944

The blood-soaked fields near Saint-Lô were a nightmare made real. The 82nd Airborne Division had dropped behind enemy lines just days before D-Day. DeGlopper was part of Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment. The mission: hold the critical causeway and prevent German counterattacks.

On June 9th, as American forces began to pull back under crushing machine-gun fire, chaos threatened to swallow the retreat. Spotting an exposed enemy machine gun crew cutting down his men, DeGlopper assaulted it alone, firing his rifle and throwing grenades with desperate precision. His action slowed the German advance enough for his platoon to pull back across the causeway and regroup.

But that was only part of the story.

Sergeant Charles DeGlopper refused to withdraw. He stood upright, in the open, a beacon drawing enemy fire away from his comrades. Every round that struck him, every shout to retreat, met with silence or a grim nod. With his last breath — and bullet — he covered the escape of 14 soldiers.

His sacrifice was total.

Honoring Valor in the Face of Death

The Medal of Honor came posthumously, approved by the highest commanders who knew the value of such courage. The citation reads:

"Sergeant DeGlopper’s gallantry is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."

Colonel Robert Sink, leader of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, said, “His stand saved lives that day. He was one of the bravest men I have ever served with.”

DeGlopper’s name is etched in memorials and army records, but more enduring is the lesson burned into his unit’s legacy—a man’s sacrifice can tilt the balance of battle.

Blood, Faith, and the Legacy of Sacrifice

Charles DeGlopper’s story is raw proof that true heroism demands more than courage—it demands the ultimate price. There is no glory without scars, no valor without loss. His stand beneath the Normandy skies reminds every combat vet what it means to fight for your brothers and a cause greater than self.

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

His sacrifice did not end with a faded medal or a name on a plaque. It lives in every soldier who takes up the fight, every family who prays for their loved ones, and every American who understands that freedom is guarded by blood and iron wills.

Charles N. DeGlopper gave all. His beacon still burns.

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A life spent for others is never lost.

That ridge in Normandy still whispers his name.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Antony Beevor, D-Day: The Battle for Normandy (Viking, 2009) 3. 82nd Airborne Division Archives, The Glider Infantry and the Saint-Lô Campaign 4. Medal of Honor citation as published by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society