Charles N. DeGlopper's Sacrifice at Ramelle River, Normandy

Nov 04 , 2025

Charles N. DeGlopper's Sacrifice at Ramelle River, Normandy

Flames tore the dawn sky. Amidst the crumbling stone and the frozen river, one soldier did not falter. Charles N. DeGlopper stood alone, the last line of defense, trading his life for the survival of his brothers.

The Boy Who Became a Shield

Born in Saratoga Springs, New York, Charles was no stranger to hard work or quiet resolve. Raised in a modest family, he carried with him a relentless sense of duty—a calling deeper than patriotism. The faith in his heart shaped him. A man guided by scripture, he lived by a code of honor forged long before he faced the enemy.

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

This was not just words to Charles. It was a covenant sealed in the crucible of his very soul.

Holding the Line on the Ramelle River

June 9, 1944. Four days after D-Day, and the fight to break out of Normandy was bloodied and brutal. DeGlopper’s unit, the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, was pinned down by relentless German fire near the tiny village of La Fière.

As the unit began to withdraw across the waist-deep waters of the Merderet River, something had to hold the enemy—to buy time.

DeGlopper volunteered for the near-suicide mission.

He waded into the shallow river, under heavy machine gun and mortar barrage. Standing on exposed terrain, he fired his Browning Automatic Rifle relentlessly. With each burst, he drew enemy attention, stalling their advance.

His actions gave his platoon the precious minutes needed to cross the river and reorganize. The firefight was savage. He was alone, momentarily abandoned by his own after a scramble for cover.

Still, Charles never stopped firing.

His weapon jammed. He cleared it. Loaded a pistol. Fired down the enemy.

Finally, hit by a fatal burst, he collapsed in the cold water.

Medal of Honor: The Nation Honors a Fallen Brother

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on September 8, 1944, DeGlopper’s citation reads with solemn reverence:

“With full knowledge of the peril involved, and with complete disregard for his safety, Private First Class DeGlopper maintained a one-man defense against overwhelming numbers of enemy infantry... His action made it possible for his comrades to withdraw and prevented the unit from being flanked or surrounded.”

Generals and fellow soldiers hailed his sacrifice as the embodiment of valor. Brigadier General James M. Gavin called it “a deed of remarkable heroism, one that saved lives and changed the course of that engagement.”

Legacy Written in Blood and Honor

Charles N. DeGlopper’s story is carved in the bitter earth of Normandy and in the hearts of those who understand the true cost of freedom.

More than a Medal of Honor recipient, he is a symbol—the brother who stands when others fall, the soldier who holds the line even as death marches close.

His sacrifice teaches us about courage beyond fear, about purpose beyond survival.

In every battlefield, the weight of his example still presses down.

“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)

That is the promise carried by every combat veteran—a legacy of sacrifice tempered by faith and duty.

DeGlopper’s name may not be on every lip, but his spirit courses through every act of brotherhood on the battlefield. Holding the river at Ramelle, he laid down his life so others could live. The blood he shed waters the roots of freedom.

Remember this man. Remember the cost. And honor the line he refused to let break.