Paris Goes To War

War came Paris, Texas on December 7, 1941. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declarations of war of the Axis countries of Japan, Germany and Italy against The United States brought World War II literally to the doorsteps of Paris.

The U.S. response to war hit Paris like a tidal wave and the results were everlasting.

This small East Texas town responded as hundreds of small towns across America did. Its sons, daughters and citizens joined the war effort.

But Paris began to develop its own uniqueness with the opening of Camp Maxey just a few miles north of the city limits in 1942. Two major divisions, the 102d Infantry Division and the 99th Infantry Division, trained there. It is estimated that over 200,000 troops and civilians trained and worked at Camp Maxey during its short 4 years of existance.

Camp Maxey was also selected as a site, as were many other training camp sites in Texas, to house German prisoners-of-war. More than 6,000 Germans were hosted there until well after the last shots of anger were fired in Europe in 1945.

Paris, as was the whole country, was like a stirred pot. The young men and women who came to Camp Maxey to train spent their leaves in town. Many of them met, courted, and married local men and women. Likewise, Paris sons and daughters who left were meeting their future spouses. The long historic ties that had held Paris together as a tight community were stretched around the world.

To and from Paris the letters streamed in and out from friends and families: from the battle fronts, from far-away hometowns, from Washington D.C., to Europe, to The Pacific and literally all points of the globe.

Sad news of soldiers being killed, exciting news of the birth of a new baby, common news about town gossip all swirlled around this small town of Paris. Paris was making its contribution to march the country toward victory.

In 1941 Paris Goes To War.


How To Add A Story & Pictures To Paris Goes To War

If you have stories, pictures or items of interest to contribute to these web pages, please email them to steelyfamilias@yahoo.com. You can send written articles in doc or pdf formats and pictures are preferred in jpg format. Contributions will be posted according the their relevance to Paris, Lamar County, Camp Maxey and World War II. All contributions may be used on these blog web pages as well as any future publications that may appear on the subject.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

In Memory of Rev. John M. Shuler, Chaplain, U.S. Army Air Corps

Rev. John M. Shuler, 92, of Paris, TX died at 11:30 AM, Saturday, March 22, 2008 in Paris. Funeral services are set for 11:00 AM, Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at the New World United Methodist Church in Garland.

Rev. Shuler was born February 4, 1916 in New Market, TN to P.L. and Alma Wills Shuler. He graduated from New Castle High School and the seminary of Southern Methodist University. Rev. Shuler married Leora "Skip" Thronburg on February 7, 1934 in Tulsa, OK. She died May 6, 2006.

After graduation from the seminary, Rev. Shuler was assigned to the Cuthand circuit, then to Calvary Methodist Church in Paris. During World War II, he attended chaplain training at Harvard University and served as chaplain for the 507 Fighter Group of the US Army Air Corps. Upon his return home from the war, he served as minister at Lakewood Methodist Church in Dallas eventually assigned to the First Methodist Church of Paris.

Rev. Shuler was the assistant executive director of Goodwill Industries for the next two years. He then returned to the ministry as minister of the Cockrell Hill Methodist Church in Dallas retiring from the Casa Linda Methodist Church. After his retirement, he was asked to fill-in as the pastor at College Mound Methodist Church and stayed for three years.

Rev. Shuler is survived by his daughter, Linda K. Swaim and husband, Freddy of Paris; six grandchildren, John Emory Shuler and wife, Staci of Gilmer, Jeri Lynn Brown and husband, Jeff of Whitehouse, Kelly Ann Swaim of Burgin, Kentucky, Tracy Leigh Schweizer and husband, Ben of Tyler, Robert L. Swaim, IV of Paris, and Frederick "Ricky" Swaim, II of Paris; seven great-grandchildren, Sunni Ann Shuler, Leora Shuler, Blake Bolton, Elizabeth Bolton, Drew Brown, Lydia Schweizer, and Zachary Swaim; one brother, Phil Shuler of Temple; and one sister, Helen French of Round Rock. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, James C. Shuler; and two brothers, James Shuler and Bob Shuler. Pallbearers will be Glenn Martin, Jeff Paige, Les Shuler, Gerald Lancaster, Tony Harris, and Tommy Townsend.

Honorary pallbearers are members of the 507 Fighter Group of the US Army Air Corps, Rev. Ken Shamblin, Rev. Gene Wisdom, and Rev. Ben Shinn. Memorials may be made to the Haiti Missions, 118 Courtland, Rockford, Michigan 49341. Online condolences may be made to the Shuler family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com.
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