Charles N. DeGlopper’s Last Stand at Normandy and His Sacrifice

Feb 11 , 2026

Charles N. DeGlopper’s Last Stand at Normandy and His Sacrifice

The world burned red across the rolling hills of Normandy—August 9, 1944. Amid screaming artillery and machine-gun fire, one man stepped into the hellfire alone. Under a leaden sky, Charles N. DeGlopper threw himself onto the sharp edge of death. With each breath ragged and heavy, he pulled his rifle’s trigger—not for glory, but for the lives behind him.

The Grit Behind the Medal

Charles Norman DeGlopper was no stranger to hard soil or hard work. Born in Arden, New York, he was raised on the sturdy backbone of rural American grit. The kind forged in family farms, Sunday church pews, and the resolve carved by Depression-era hardship. Faith was not an abstract notion for Charlie—it was armor and compass.

His belief steeled him. "Be strong and courageous," he lived by Joshua 1:9. Not just a verse memorized but a covenant—a code of honor etched in his soul. Before the uniform, before war, there was a young man molded by sacrifice, quiet humility, and a fierce will to shield others from harm.

The Battle That Defined Him

On August 9, 1944, DeGlopper found himself with Company C, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division—The Big Red One—charged with securing a foothold near the village of Les Boissons, deep behind German lines in Normandy.

The 1st Division was tangled in a desperate fight to slow a German counterattack. The enemy clawed back, relentless and brutal. American soldiers were forced to withdraw under heavy fire. DeGlopper’s squad was part of the rear guard, tasked with holding a crucial position at a crossroads against waves of enemy troops armed to kill.

The German guns jabbed the earth—machine guns spit near point-blank ranges. DeGlopper stood, alone and exposed, firing his rifle with deadly precision. Over and over, he cut down the enemy’s advance, buying precious seconds for his comrades to retreat to safety.

Each round fired was a heartbeat against death. Even as he was struck by multiple bullets, he pressed on, crawling and dragging his life forward with unyielding determination.

He slowed the enemy enough—his sacrifice sealed the gap. When the dust cleared, DeGlopper was dead. But he left behind something more durable than flesh:

a shield against annihilation.

Recognition from the Blood and Smoke

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 17, 1945, DeGlopper’s citation captured the raw ferocity of his last stand:

“With the enemy advancing on both flanks of his platoon, Pvt. DeGlopper, alone and armed only with his rifle, gallantly held his ground for a considerable time, while firing at the enemy in order to give his comrades an opportunity to withdraw.” [1]

Generals and comrades alike lauded his valor. Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges called it “the finest act of combat heroism seen in the European Theater.” Fellow soldiers remembered his calm under fire, his unwavering resolve.

His Medal of Honor is not a trophy—it is a blood-stained testament to what one man can do when he chooses courage over fear.

Legacy Etched in Scars and Souls

Charles DeGlopper’s name is carved on the tablets of sacrifice. The Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial in his hometown and his story taught in military history remind every generation what it means to give all.

But heroism is not just about war’s glory. It is about the scars left behind—on bodies, minds, and the soul of a nation. It is the lesson that courage is crafted from duty and faith, from the gut-wrenching choice to stand when fleeing seems easier.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:13

His sacrifice was both brutal and redemptive. It was a prayer offered in gunfire—an echo of God’s invitation to courage and purpose, even in the face of death.

Charles N. DeGlopper died owning the line between life and death. His gunshots were prayers; his blood—a covenant. Remember this when the world demands you stand in places of hardship—your fight matters. Your scars bear witness.

His legacy speaks to warriors and civilians alike: sacrifice is never wasted. Redemption waits when you answer the call, just as DeGlopper did, unflinching, until the last bullet.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients — World War II. 2. Robert W. Kirk, The 1st Infantry Division Through the Normandy Campaign. 3. Douglas T. Kane, Valor Beyond Measure: The Story of Medal of Honor Recipients in WWII.