Charles Neilans DeGlopper

He stepped into a Normandy road swept by German machine-gun fire, knowing that every second he survived could save the lives of his comrades. On June 9, 1944, just three days after D-Day, Private First Class Charles Neilans DeGlopper made one of the most extraordinary sacrifices of the Normandy Campaign. Armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle and facing overwhelming enemy forces, the 22-year-old American soldier chose to stand and fight rather than abandon his trapped platoon. His final act of courage would earn him the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration for valor.

Born on November 30, 1921, in Grand Island, New York, Charles N. DeGlopper grew up on his family's cattle farm and graduated from Tonawanda High School in 1941. Drafted into the U.S. Army in November 1942, he trained at Camp Croft, South Carolina, before joining Company C, 1st Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. His wartime deployment began in North Africa in 1943. Following the division's preparations in the British Isles, he joined the airborne forces assembling for the liberation of Nazi-occupied France.

On June 7, 1944, DeGlopper landed by glider in Normandy near Sainte-Mère-Église. Two days later, his unit was engaged in the struggle for the strategically vital Merderet River crossings near La Fière. Advancing against German defensive positions, members of Company C became separated from the rest of their force. The Americans faced a powerful enemy counterattack while sheltering in a shallow roadside ditch, with German troops threatening to cut off their withdrawal.

Realizing that his fellow soldiers could be overwhelmed, DeGlopper volunteered to provide covering fire while they withdrew through a gap in a hedgerow. Instead of remaining concealed, he walked into the open roadway and fired his automatic rifle directly at German positions, deliberately drawing enemy fire toward himself. Although wounded, he continued shooting. Struck again, he dropped to his knees and kept firing until he was killed. His courageous stand bought precious time for his comrades to reach a more defensible position and continue the fight for the Merderet bridgehead.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, Charles N. DeGlopper was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor under War Department General Orders No. 22, dated February 28, 1946. His official citation recognized his sacrifice and extraordinary resistance as an important contribution to the American victory during the Normandy Campaign. His father accepted the medal on March 10, 1946, at a ceremony in Grand Island.

DeGlopper's recorded honours also include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment also received the Army Presidential Unit Citation for its outstanding performance during the Normandy operations of June 7 to 9, 1944. His combat service is further reflected in his infantry and glider qualifications.

Charles N. DeGlopper was only 22 years old when he gave his life for his fellow soldiers. He rests at Maple Grove Cemetery in Grand Island, New York, where his hometown continues to commemorate his sacrifice. His name also lives on through military facilities and memorials established in his honor. More than eight decades after the Normandy landings, his story remains a powerful reminder of the selflessness and courage that helped secure Allied victory in World War II. He did not survive to see that victory, but his decision to stand alone ensured that others had the chance to live.