Remembering Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero at Normandy

Jan 12 , 2026

Remembering Charles DeGlopper, Medal of Honor Hero at Normandy

Bullets tore through the blood-soaked air. Men fell screaming, clutching shattered limbs. Somewhere in the chaos, one voice rose against the storm—steady, relentless, refusing to quit. Charles N. DeGlopper, a Private First Class in the 82nd Airborne, threw himself into hell so others might live. He swallowed death with open eyes and held the line, alone.

A Soldier Steeped in Duty and Faith

Born in the quiet stretches of Mechanicville, New York, Charles carried the grit of small-town America—hardworking hands, quiet resolve. Raised by a family who lived by Christian values, his faith was more than words; it became armor. At a time when young men filled the ranks, DeGlopper answered the call without hesitation.

He was a man grounded in something greater than himself. Letters home reveal a soldier not just fighting an enemy, but wrestling with the meaning of sacrifice. Scripture whispered in his heart, a code sharper than his bayonet:

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

He was no stranger to hardship, but he faced it headlong with a soldier’s code and a Christian’s humility.

The Battle That Defined Him: Normandy, June 9, 1944

Two days after D-Day, the airborne divisions combed through hedgerows and shattered fields of Normandy. The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment moved to seize the town of Saint-Lô, a linchpin in crushing the Nazi front. DeGlopper’s platoon advanced alongside the Roer River, but German machine guns opened fire—merciless, precise, deadly.

The unit was forced to pull back. Chaos threatened, and panic threatened more. To cover the retreat, someone had to hold the line. DeGlopper volunteered. This was not a man seeking glory. It was a soldier clutching the lives of his brothers in the palm of his hand.

For nearly ten minutes, under withering fire, DeGlopper stood alone beside a German machine gun nest. Rifle blazing, he pinned down two enemy positions, buying precious time for his comrades to withdraw safely. Each shot cost him ground, but he refused to move back.

Bullets ripped into him. Twice wounded, he pressed on until a third burst ended him. His last stand was not heard in fanfare, but in the silence left behind—a silence heavy with loss and gratitude.

Honoring the Ultimate Sacrifice

On December 12, 1944, Charles N. DeGlopper was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. President Roosevelt’s citation spelled out his courage:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty... Private First Class DeGlopper’s voluntary action... was an inspiration to all who heard of it.”

Leaders of the 82nd Airborne credit his sacrifice with saving scores of men and keeping the momentum of the push into Normandy. Sergeant Clarence E. Bishop, a comrade at the scene, later recalled:

“There was no way anyone was coming forward except him. He stood like a rock. We owed him our lives.”

His Medal of Honor rests alongside numerous honors from the U.S. Army, but more than medals, he earned a name whispered with reverence by every paratrooper who followed.

Legacy of Courage and Redemption

Charles DeGlopper’s story is not one of myth or legend shaped by distance. It is cold, hard truth carved into the soil of Normandy—a testament to the raw cost of freedom. He embodies a soldier’s darkest trial: to face certain death and choose the lives of others instead.

In the crucible of war, DeGlopper found purpose beyond survival. His faith furnished the strength to stand when all else failed, sealing his legacy with blood and grace intertwined.

For veterans who carry scars seen and unseen, his story is a mirror. For civilians who wonder what it means to serve, his life and death shine a stark gospel of sacrifice:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” — Matthew 5:9

Charles N. DeGlopper died at twenty-one, but his spirit endures. In every step taken by those who value liberty, his shadow walks alongside. His sacrifice is a prayer etched deep into the heart of a nation still fighting its own battles.

Sources

1. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Citation: Charles N. DeGlopper 2. 82nd Airborne Division Archives, After Action Reports, Normandy Campaign 3. Roosevelt, Franklin D., Presidential Medal of Honor Awards, 1944 4. Bishop, Clarence E., Interviews with Normandy Veterans, Veterans History Project