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, July 3, 2018

In Memory of Carlos M Jaime, G Company, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, Trained at Camp Maxey



CARLOS M JAIME 


Carlos Martinez Jaime passed away on March 8, 2017 in Vallejo, California, where he resided for the last 57 years. Carlos was born in Aguascalientes City, Aguascalientes, Mexico on November 20, 1925 and immigrated to the United States with his parents and three siblings in 1926.

While a senior at Argentine High School in Kansas City, KS, he petitioned the Draft Board, volunteering for the Army Air Corp Program, but was denied due to his non-citizen status. He was subsequently drafted into wartime service in December of 1943. He attended boot camp and artillery training at Camp Callan in La Jolla, CA. Carlos was awarded his citizenship on April 21, 1944, prior to reassignment to Camp Maxey-Paris, TX for Infantry Training School. 

Upon completion, he was assigned to Company G of the 393rd Infantry and fought his way to VE Day. Following his service in World War II, he returned to his family in Kansas City to complete his high school education and then to work for the Santa Fe Railroad. It was in Leavenworth, KS where he met his future wife, Maria Molinar. 

He relocated to California for employment at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and completed his inside machinist apprenticeship, Shop 31. Carlos was promoted to a Nuclear Inspector, Nuclear Inspection Department and eventually retired as a Nuclear Planner and Estimator after nearly 30 years of government civil service. Carlos loved all sports and especially loved attending his grandchildren’s sporting and special events. He is survived by his wife, Maria; his children, Margo, Ana, Mario, Luis, Jorge; 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; many nephews and nieces that he loved dearly.

(courtesy Mario O. Jaime) http://www.miaproject.net/lest-we-forget/

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