Charles N. DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Last Stand at Normandy

Nov 27 , 2025

Charles N. DeGlopper's Medal of Honor Last Stand at Normandy

The gunfire never stopped. The screams mixed with the roar of artillery. Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone, an island of steel amid a sea of chaos. His rifle cracked like thunder, slow and deliberate—each shot a prayer, each bullet a shield for the men behind him. The rest of his platoon was falling back. The enemy closed in. This was his final fight.

Background & Faith

Born in Schroon Lake, New York, in 1921, Charles grew up with quiet dignity and the hard ethics of the North Country — honest work, firm faith, and unyielding loyalty. He carried a deep belief informed by his Methodist upbringing. His faith wasn’t just Sunday prayers; it was a steadfast code for daily life and, ultimately, for facing death.

He once said to a friend, “God’s holding my hand through this.” That’s the kind of man he was—rooted in grace but never soft. DeGlopper’s resolve was forged in small-town values and sharpened on the anvil of service.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 9, 1944. Just three days after D-Day, the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment landed behind enemy lines in Normandy. The mission: hold the road from La Fière to Vièvre to stop German reinforcements. It was a deathtrap.

DeGlopper’s platoon was ordered to retreat across an open field under withering fire—machine guns and mortars cutting through men like a butcher’s knife. The enemy swarmed; retreat meant certain slaughter.

Without orders, he stayed. Alone, he covered the withdrawal, firing his M1 rifle from a standing position—making himself a target.

His single act bought precious time. His bullets slowed the enemy advance.

He was hit repeatedly. Down to one knee, then fallen flat, still firing. His sacrifice broke the grip of the German tide, allowing dozens of comrades to escape.

He died on that field, soaked in blood — but his stubborn defense saved lives.

Recognition

For this, Charles N. DeGlopper received the Medal of Honor posthumously—America’s highest military decoration for valor.

The citation reads:

“He single-handedly covered the withdrawal of his company and was killed while holding off German machine gun fire.”

His commanding officer summed it best:

“DeGlopper’s courage was a beacon amid darkness. His stand shaped the battle’s outcome. His legacy is our salvation.”[1]

In a letter to DeGlopper’s family, General Maxwell D. Taylor wrote,

“No braver soldier than Charles ever lived.”[2]

Legacy & Lessons

DeGlopper’s story isn’t just about starlit medals or parade ceremonies. It’s about raw sacrifice on the bleeding edge of America’s fight against tyranny.

He embodies the warrior’s burden: the painful choice to stand, alone, against hellfire for brothers-in-arms.

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

More than 75 years later, Charles N. DeGlopper’s name echoes through history—not just as a hero, but as a reminder that courage is measured in moments when everything falls away, and only honor remains.

These are the souls who carry our freedom on their bullet-riddled backs.

Remember him every time you hear a rifle’s crack or see the flag lowered in silence.

DeGlopper’s sacrifice whispers this eternal truth: Valor is never about glory—it’s about the cost no man should have to bear, but sometimes must, to shield others from the darkness.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Maxwell D. Taylor, letter to DeGlopper family, 1944, National Archives