Dedication of Bridge and Plaque at Courville, France to 1st Lt. James O. Gomer
Commanding Officer, Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company,
23rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division
Killed in Action 14 August 1944
Ceremony 8 September 2012

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7th Armd Div Patch


Plaque
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See English translation below.

Plaque at end of Bridge
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Frédéric Hallouin
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Mme Rodgers and Mark Taplin,
US Embassy, Deputy Chief of Mission Click on image for full size.


Read About the Combat Action in which James Gomer Was Killed

Click here for web page on the action in which James Gomer was killed.


Text of Plaque

IN MEMORIAM

First Lieutenant James O. Gomer

23rd Armored Infantry Battalion
7th Armored Division

Fallen for the liberation of our community
14 August 1944 at the age of 23 years

14 August 1944 about 8:30 PM, the reconnaissance platoon of Headquarters Company of 23rd Armored Infantry Battalion, which had left from Cormes (Sarthe) in the afternoon, arrived in view of our community with Company A of the same battalion. They were soon placed under fire by anti-tank cannons, mortars and machine guns at the entrance to the village by a German unit in retreat. During this engagement, First Lieutenant James O. Gomer, fell, cut down by a projectile. Very quickly, Battery A of 434th Armored Field Artillery Battalion replied by firing 20 105mm shells on the enemy positions. Following this intervention and with the fall of night, calm was restored.

The German forces evacuated the village, but not without destroying the 3 bridges spanning the Eure. The night was put to good use by the American forces who made reconnaissances to the village and beyond. An arch, fallen in the river, separated them from the citizens of Courville who were impatient to express their gratitude.

Despite the language barrier, the liberators were guided to a ford a bit further downstream. After a planning session, the American troops invested the town. They headed rapidly for Chartres, where 5 days of combat would be necessary for its liberation.

First Lieutenant James O. Gomer, born 23 September 1921 in Missouri, would be buried at Sainte Cormeille (Sarthe) 16 August. Since 1949, he rests finally in the American cemetery of Saint James in Brittany.


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