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, June 12, 2018

In Memory of Captain Gaines Boyle from Paris, Texas, KIA Italy, 36th Infantry Division

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II

Service: Army

Battalion: 3d Battalion

Division: 36th Infantry Division

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 305 (1944)

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Gaines M. Boyle (ASN: 0-406662), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Liaison Officer with the 3d Battalion, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 12 June 1944, in Italy. During an advance by the battalion, the portion of the column Captain Boyle was with was ambushed and cut off from the main body of troops. He quickly organized the trapped men for an all around defense. It was imperative that the battalion be contacted and help summoned. Captain Boyle remembered having seen an abandoned infantry radio. He crawled out under direct rifle and machine gun fire to search for the set. When help came and the survivors were rescued, Captain Boyle was found dead by the radio. His pistol was in his hand and an empty cartridge clip lay nearby, mute evidence of the fight he had made to defend himself so that he could call for help to save his men. His gallant action reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

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