Digital painting by Jean-Pierre Roy, commissioned for the
Congressional Medal of Honor Society, depicts Charles DeGlopper in World War II.
Saving C Company,
Remembering D Day
Medal
of Honor Recipient PFC Charles N. DeGlopper to be Celebrated at
Normandy
Commemorations
On
June 9, 1944, PFC Charles Neilans DeGlopper (aged 22), part of the 325th
Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, was ordered to cross the Merderet River to help attack La Fière
Bridge from the opposite side. PFC DeGlopper’s C Company 1st Battalion was cut
off from the rest of the battalion and came under heavy fire. PFC DeGlopper
rose, firing his Browning Automatic Rifle at the Germans. Wounded, he continued
to fire, and when hit again, he still fired, kneeling and bleeding profusely.
PFC DeGlopper’s weapon fire distracted the Germans long enough for the
remainder of C Company to break off and head for La Fière.
For giving his life above and beyond
the call of duty, Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper was posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor on February 28, 1946, the only member of the 82nd
Airborne Division so honored in Normandy.
On May 31,
2010, members of PFC DeGlopper’s family and veterans from his namesake VFW
Post in Grand Island (#9249) will travel to Normandy to participate in
commemorations for the 66th Anniversary of D Day and retrace his
final steps. This is their first trip to see where their late relative fought
and died on June 9, 1944.
During the
first week of June, they will visit numerous towns and participate in ceremonies
near St. Mère Eglise which will culminate with a multi-national parachutist
drop. On June 3rd, there will be a wreath laying ceremony at a memorial to
Charles N. DeGlopper (dedicated in June 2008) by “Association Normandie,” a
local French commemorative organization.
(Lieutenant
Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired)