The Legacy of Charles Neilans DeGlopper
Born: November 30, 1921 to
Mary Neilans DeGlopper and Charles Leonard DeGlopper
Family Home: 2176 Fix Road, Grand Island, New York
Attended Elementary School at School #5, Baseline and Bush roads, Grand Island
Teachers who taught Charles:
Grades 1 - 4: Irene Guenther
Grade 5: Lucy Stamler (Mrs. Richard Stamler)
Grades 6-7: Marie Hessinger
Grade 8: Lillian Grenzebach
June 1941: Graduated from Tonawanda High School
Entered the Army in November, 1942
Trained at Camp Croft, South Carolina
Sent overseas, April 1943
Member of the 325th Glider Infantry
Served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France
Killed in action: June 9, 1944 - laFiere, France
February 28, 1945
Recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor by Captain Wayne W. Pierce, 325th Glider Infantry, Commanding Company C
March 10, 1946
Charles N. DeGlopper is posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award bestowed on any member of the Army. Medal presented to his father, Charles L. DeGlopper by Major General Leland S. Hobbs at a ceremony at Trinity Evangelical United Brethren Church, Whitehaven Road, Grand Island.
December 3, 1947
US Army Transport "Englin Victory" is renamed the "Pvt. Charles N. DeGlopper" at the Brooklyn Army Base at Brooklyn, New York.
Following the ceremony, the ship left for Bremerhaven, Germany with arrival expected on December 17, 1947. The 7,607 ton vessel was built in 1945 in California.
April 5, 1948
Road at Fort Bragg, North Carolina named for Charles N. DeGlopper
July 7, 1948
Charles N. DeGlopper's body is returned from France to the NY Central Terminal, Buffalo, New York. Traveled the six miles from the terminal to the Connecticut Street Armory by caisson.
July 8-9, 1948
Charles N. DeGlopper's body, along with two others, lies in state at the Connecticut Street Armory.
July 9, 1948:
Evening wake is held in the family home on Fix Road.
July 10, 1948
Funeral from family home.
Service read by Ref. J. Franklin Beck, Trinity Evangelical United Brethren Church
Charles N DeGlopper buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Whitehaven Road, Grand Island (actually on Stony Pt.)
Military rites conducted by Grand Island Post 1346, American Legion.
December 7, 1958
US Army Reserve Training Center, Colvin Blvd., Tonawanda, New York is dedicated to Charles N. DeGlopper and named the Charles DeGlopper Center. It is a 600-person armory costing approx. $500,000.
May, 1962
American Legion Post 1346 appropriates and dedicates Charles DeGlopper Park, Baseline Road and Grand Island Boulevard, Grand Island, New York
Garden Club, who continue today to maintain it. First services held for Memorial Day 1962
November 1965
Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial VFW Post #9249 named for Charles N. DeGlopper
October 1992
Grand Island Historical Society WWII Display for the Huth Road Elementary School Fourth Graders. This was the first public display of Charles N. DeGlopper's Medal of Honor
June 9, 1994
50th Anniversary of Charles N. DeGlopper's Death
June 9-11, 1994
Ceremonies at Maple Grove Cemetery and DeGlopper Park, Skydivers and a Presentation of Flags at Veterans Park, Display of Memorabilia, Vehicles and Artifacts at Historic Trinity Church, all on Grand Island
Organized by:
Niagara Frontier All Airborne Chapter, 82nd Airborne, Grand Island Historical Society, Town of Grand Island
June 12, 2004
Ceremonies at Maple Grove Cemetery commemorating his life and sacrifice 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 12, 2004.
June 4, 2010
Annual Ceremony at the Charles DeGlopper Memorial Panel at La Fiere, Normandy (France).
January 23, 2015
The Fort Bragg Air Assault School formally renamed The DeGlopper Air Assault School.