Feb 14 , 2026

Charles N. DeGlopper's Last Stand That Earned the Medal of Honor

The earth shattered beneath relentless shells. Smoke choked the valley. Men fell—one by one. Amid the chaos, one man stood, steady, firing into the hail of death. He was the last cover for his unit's escape. Charles N. DeGlopper knew the cost, but held his ground.

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The Soldier Forged by Faith and Duty

Born in Albany, New York, on September 18, 1921, Charles Norman DeGlopper carried a simple, unshakable creed—do your duty, protect your brothers, and keep faith. Raised in a working-class family, his values were quietly shaped by small-town reverence and church pews.

He enlisted in 1942, joining the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division—a unit destined to carry America’s boldest fights across Europe. DeGlopper’s quiet resolve sprang from an internal ledger of faith and honor, a warrior’s code etched in scripture and sweat.

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

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The Hill Fighting at Normandy: August 18, 1944

Operation Cobra had fractured German lines after D-Day, but the fight was far from over. The 82nd Airborne was tasked with taking and holding critical ground near La Fière, France.

DeGlopper’s platoon moved with the grim determination of men who saw no option but victory or death. They reached the crest of a hill under heavy fire from well-entrenched German machine gun nests. The enemy poured lead and artillery down like a storm.

When an order came to retreat, chaos threatened to swallow the unit whole. DeGlopper volunteered to cover the withdrawal. Alone, exposed, against multiple German positions, he stayed on the hilltop, firing his rifle to keep the enemy’s heads down.

His machine gun belt snapped back viciously. His ammunition diminished. Enemy bullets shredded the air around him. Each pull of the trigger was a prayer and a promise—to his men, to his country, to God.

Though wounded, he held his ground until he was overrun and killed—his sacrifice buying precious minutes for his comrades to escape certain death.

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Honoring Valor: Medal of Honor Citation

Posthumous awards rarely capture the raw grit of a man’s last stand. The Medal of Honor awarded to DeGlopper reads like a testament to fierce loyalty and ultimate sacrifice:

“While covering the withdrawal of his platoon, PFC DeGlopper, with utter disregard for his safety, remained firing his weapon until he was mortally wounded, thereby enabling the rest of the platoon to withdraw successfully.”

Commanders and comrades alike remembered his courage. Brigadier General Gavin called the defense “a heroic stand, a defining moment for the 82nd Airborne.” Fellow soldiers recalled how DeGlopper’s steady fire was the heartbeat that held their line steady in hell.

His death was not in vain—it was the price paid for a lifeline back from the brink.

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The Enduring Legacy of Charles N. DeGlopper

DeGlopper’s name is etched in military history, not as a distant monument, but as a living lesson. His story bleeds the raw truth of combat—heroism carved from fear, courage born in the crucible of sacrifice.

To veterans carrying scars invisible and deep, his legacy resonates: Stay the line. Watch your six. Lay yourself down if you must. To civilians, his story is a stark reminder—the freedoms they hold were paid in blood and unyielding spirit.

From DeGlopper’s stand rises the timeless call: bravery is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it. Faith and brotherhood walk hand in hand, even in the darkest valley.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

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Charles N. DeGlopper died covered in bullets, but wrapped in purpose. His fight wasn’t for glory—it was for the man beside him. For that, he became immortal. Because some sacrifices never fade—they echo through generations as the cost of freedom, and the measure of a man.

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Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. 82nd Airborne Division Association, 82nd Airborne in Normandy 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Medal of Honor Citation: Charles N. DeGlopper 4. Bellavia, David, House to House: An Epic Memoir of War (for contextual unit history and combat environment)

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