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.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

In Memory of Ormel Iverson (Jack) Boyd, 99th Infantry Division, POW, Purple Heart, Bronze Star



Ormel Iverson (Jack) Boyd, a Lockhart resident since 1992, died April 27, 2007. He was born October 6, 1923, to Thomas Jackson Boyd and Beulah Echo Spence near Chilton, in Falls County, Texas. He retired after 33 years as Chief of the Business and Rural Development Program, Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), USDA. He was awarded and recognized for his work with community leaders organizing water supply systems to serve rural communities in Texas. 

A veteran of World War II, he volunteered in 1943 while attending John Tarleton College, attended Army Specialized Training Program engineering courses at East Texas State Teachers College and in March 1944 was assigned to the 99th Infantry Division, receiving advanced training at Camp Maxey, Paris, Texas. 

He shipped to Europe in September 1944 and was on the front line in December with the 99th Infantry at the start of the Battle of the Bulge. Wounded and captured, he was a prisoner of war until April 29, 1945. His service awards include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman's Badge and two battle stars. 

Following his discharge he received a BS degree in Agricultural Education and a Master of Education from Texas A&M. He was preceded in death in 1978 by his wife Marjorie Pearl Beasley and a brother, Melvin Boyd. 

He is survived by his wife of fifteen years, Frances Schubert Bozarth Boyd of Lockhart; his sons, Don of Georgetown and Alan of West Columbia; grandsons, Michael of Georgetown and Tim, Ben, Zack and Nathan of West Columbia; a granddaughter, Amanda Sheffield of Houston; and a great-granddaughter and great grandson. He is also survived by his sister, Geneva Davis of Austin; brother, Nolan of McGregor; sister, Ruth Nicholson of Pinetops, NC; and brother, Leland of Amarillo. He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews and other treasured family and friends. A visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Eeds Funeral Home in Lockhart. A celebration memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at First Presbyterian Church in Lockhart. Interment will follow at 3:30 p.m., at Union Cemetery, near Durango in Falls County. The family requests memorials to the First Presbyterian Church in Lockhart; to the American Heart Association; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on Apr. 30, 2007

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