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.