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.

Friday, May 4, 2018

In Memory of William "Bill" J. Bishop, 793rd Military Police Battalion


William "Bill" J. Bishop, 89, of Allegan and Kalamazoo, MI died peacefully on April 7, 2013, at the Wings Home - Hospice, in Allegan. He was born in Allegan, MI on January 31, 1924, the son of Carl Wm Bishop and Mizpah Marcella (VanKeuren) Bishop.

He attended Kalamazoo Central High School until the outbreak of World War II. After his enlistment, he trained at Camp Maxey, TX as part of the 793rd Military Police Battalion. He was then deployed to the European front performing port security in Antwerp Belgium and Marseilles, France.

After three years, he returned to Michigan to be with his wife, Virginia (Nuyen) Bishop. Bill worked at Kelley Ink Company in Kalamazoo for many years and finished his working career with Rockwell Corporation in Allegan. While living in Kalamazoo, he was part of the charter organizers of the Westwood Little League and was an active member of that organization. Bill (or as he liked to be known as "Wild" Bill) loved to hunt and fish.

He was a devoted father spending endless hours with his four children. Among his "favorite" things to do was going out for breakfast and kidding with the waitresses that served him. Bill is survived by two sons Roger (Virginia) Bishop, Larry (Judy) Bishop; two daughters, Janet Westcott and Diane (Paul) Bartz. He also leaves behind his life partner of many years, Patti Oram; brother, Frank (Virgil) Bishop, Julia Blair, and Patricia Getty. He was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia Llewellyn. Bill was the proud grandfather of ten children and great-grandfather of five, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at the Gorden Funeral Residence, Allegan Chapel, 528 Trowbridge Street, Allegan, MI on Saturday, April 13, 2013. A visitation will be held by his children starting at 10 AM followed by a Memorial Service at 11 AM. A private military inurnment will be conducted at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, MI. Anyone wishing to make a contribution in lieu of flowers can do so through donations to the Disabled Veterans Association and/or the Wings Home (www.wingshome.org). 

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