On the south side of the church. Marker

An inscribed gray marble plaque.

The plaque marks the location near where Major Thomas D. Howie was killed on July 17, 1944 during the liberation of the city during Operation Cobra.  Major Howie’s body was laid on this location after he died.

Major Howie was killed while leading the attack as the Battalion Commander of the 3rd battalion, 116th Infantry, 29th "Blue and Gray" Infantry Division on Saint Lô during “Operation Cobra”.  On the morning of July 17, Howie phoned Major General Charles Gerhardt, the Division Commander saying “Yes, we can do it” and "See you in St. Lo!"; then issued orders for the attack. Moments later he was killed by shrapnel during a mortar attack. 

near the Sainte-Croix Church.  His soldiers laid his flagged draped body on the ruble of the church later that day.

Howie is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and a monument remembers him as the "Major of St. Lô" on a nearby traffic circle named Place du Major Howie.

The text on the plaque is in French and reads:

ICI

LE 18 JUILLET 1944

A ETE DEPOSE LE CORPS

DU MAJOR HOWIE

Translation:

HERE

ON 18 JULY 1944

LAID THE BODY

OF MAJOR HOWIE