Mounted on the left-hand side beside the entrance door of the church.

A rectangular black plaque with a chamfered top inscribed in French in gold-leaf lettering. Printed in color on the top-center side is the insignia of the 4^th Armored Division. The plaque commemorates Cpt James H. Fields, a Medal of Honor recipient, of the 10^th Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, for his heroic action during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, he led the first platoon of Company A, located on top of Hill 265 near Rechicourt (the next village west of Bezange), France, for a counterattack on enemy positions the next morning. That night, when he heard German voices, he told his platoon to dig in. In the morning, his platoon became pinned down by withering crossfire from two machine guns and the threat of a German tank. During the battle, half of the platoon became casualties. Calls over the radio to his unit's anti-tank officer went unanswered. Some of Fields' men wished to surrender because of the hopeless situation, and he replied "I would rather die than surrender." In the ensuing battle, he instructed his only medic not to move; no sooner had he had given the order, the medic abandoned his position and was shot dead. As Fields described the situation, "The medic was five pounds heavier with lead when he fell." Cpt Fields picked up a pistol to attempt to save the medic, and while doing so was shot through the face, knocking out several teeth and almost severing his tongue. Undeterred, Cpt Fields obtained some gauze and wedged it in his mouth to limit the bleeding. He then picked up a .30 caliber machine gun and firing from the hip, was able to silence both enemy machine guns. He then began giving orders for a counterattack. The men regained their courage and were able to repel the enemy. Cpt Fields refused to be evacuated until he reported his position and the strength of the enemy. After reporting, injured as he was, he found the officer who didn't answer his calls and pummeled him. Cpt Fields was awarded the Medal of Honor five months later, on February 27, 1945.

Source of information: en.wikipedia.org

10^éme Bataillon d’infanterie Blindée

CPT JAMES H. FIELDS

MEDAILLE D'HONNEUR DU

CONGRES DES U.S.A.

BEZANGE LA PETITE

COTE 265

27 SEPTEMBRE 1944

English translation:

10th Armored Infantry Battalion

CPT JAMES H. FIELDS

MEDAL OF HONOR

CONGRESS OF THE U.S.A.

BEZANGE LA PETITE

HILL 265

SEPTEMBER 27, 1944