Paris Goes To War: 2016

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

Monday, May 16, 2016

Camp Maxey Railroads/Passengers/Freight

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Sgt. Elmer R. Rohrbach

Sgt. Elmer R. Rohrbach
1882nd Unit, 8th Service Command
Detention Corps of Military Police
Camp Maxey, Texas
U.S. Army

Elmer Robert Rohrbach was born May 27, 1921, in D'Hanis, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army from August 1942 to January 1946. He was a staff sergeant in the military police, serving in the Western Pacific Campaign.

Monday, February 15, 2016

WWII POW Camps In The U.S.

http://prezi.com/t3fcphhbcbgj/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

99th Infantry Division: 324th Medical Batallion

https://www.med-dept.com/unit-histories/324th-medical-battalion/

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Link to the 99th Infantry Division Association Web Site

Charles Bowden, Civilian Employee

At its peak of activity, Camp Maxey employed approximately 10,500 civilian employees in support of over 50,000 military assigned to the camp. Both the 99th and 102d Infantry Divisions trained at the camp, each with 18,500 members.

1942-Camp Maxey

Link to 102d Infantry Division Association Web Site

http://www.ozarks102id.org/group.php

Mrs. Wentz, wife of S/Sgt. Lester L. Wentz, 28 cent meal ticket at camp Mess #3

S/Sgt. Lester L. Werntz, enlisted man's pass to visit Paris.

Camp Maxey Theater and Guest House

Paris, Texas 1944

By 1944 Paris had grown accustomed to soldiers flocking to town as a diversion from life at Camp Maxey. Four USOs were established to provide entertainment and dances for thousands of them each weekend. One cab company reported a wait in line of over an hour after midnight to get a taxi after USOs had closed.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Pvt. Dave W. Jones, 99th Infantry Division

Pvt Joseph Smiley

Admiral James Otto Richardson

Hundreds of Pearl Harbor publications tell the story of the attack, but few reveal the conflicts during the first few months the Fleet was stationed at Hawaii. A new book by Skipper Steely is a view of the man in charge at the time, his background and career. Released by Pelican Publishing House, this is an important historical account of James Otto Richardson who was born in Paris, Texas on September 18, 1878. In June 1939, Richardson to sea as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, with the temporary rank of Admiral. Beginning in January 1940, he was Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, holding that position during a stressful period marked by the fleet's forward deployment to Pearl Harbor. Relieved by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel in February 1941, he served at the Navy Department into 1942. Transferred to the Retired List with the rank of Admiral in October 1942, he remained on active service with the Navy Relief Society, as Senior Member of a "Special Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee" on the reorganization of the National Defense, and as a witness before the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Released from active duty in January 1947, he thereafter resided in Washington, D.C.

Camp Maxey & Paris Goes To War

You are invited to post a family story about Paris Goes To War on this blog. A web page on Paris Goes To War is being developed and will be appearing soon.

If you or one of your relatives were touched in any measure by Paris, Lamar County or Camp Maxey, please contribute.

If you were a member of the Texas National Guard, the 36th Infantry Division, the 102d Infantry Division, the 99th Infantry Division, were assigned to Camp Maxey for training, a civilian employee of Camp Maxey or associated with any war effort invloving Paris, please contribute.

If you have a story invloving Paris or Camp Maxey, your contribution is appreciated.

Paris Goes To War

Paris Goes To War

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

Monday, May 16, 2016

Camp Maxey Railroads/Passengers/Freight

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Sgt. Elmer R. Rohrbach

Monday, February 15, 2016

WWII POW Camps In The U.S.

99th Infantry Division: 324th Medical Batallion

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Link to the 99th Infantry Division Association Web Site

Charles Bowden, Civilian Employee

1942-Camp Maxey

Link to 102d Infantry Division Association Web Site

Mrs. Wentz, wife of S/Sgt. Lester L. Wentz, 28 cent meal ticket at camp Mess #3

S/Sgt. Lester L. Werntz, enlisted man's pass to visit Paris.

Camp Maxey Theater and Guest House

Paris, Texas 1944

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Pvt. Dave W. Jones, 99th Infantry Division

Pvt Joseph Smiley

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High Quality Reproductions Of Paris, Texas and Camp Maxey

Admiral James Otto Richardson

Captain Gaines M Boyle (right) buried at: Plot G Row 4 Grave 7, Florence American Cemetary, Italy

Camp Maxey & Paris Goes To War

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