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 Jack Leroy Yount, Battery C, 371st Field Artillery Battalion, 99th Infantry Division, Trained at Camp Maxey



JACK L. YOUNT
Battery C, 371st Field Artillery Battalion
1918-2017

Jack Leroy Yount, 98, of Surprise, AZ passed away April 7, 2017. Jack was born September 23, 1918 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Edgar and Mary Yount. He lived in Oklahoma until relocating to Charlotte, NC. Throughout his life he found his love for nature and landscape in locations where he visited and lived. He especially loved to share his memories of living near or visiting various mountain ranges, oceans and desert landscapes. Arizona is the special place that he enjoyed living for the remainder of his life with his wife, children and friends. Jack’s church memberships included First Baptist Church of Del City, First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City and First Baptist Church of Charlotte, NC.

Jack proudly entered the United States Army on October 16, 1940. He was part of the 99th Division, Battery « C », 371st F.A. During his service, he was stationed across the country: Fort Sill, Oklahoma, San Louis Obispo, California, Fort Ord, California, Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, Camp Maxey, Texas, and in Europe: France, Belgium and Germany. During his WWII service, he received 3 Bronze Battle Stars (Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe). After returning from war, he began his lifelong career in retail management.

Jack married the love of his life and best friend, Jeanette (Jean) Pliley in Oklahoma City. They would have celebrated their 66th anniversary on November 4th. 

 He is survived by his wife, Jean, daughter Carol Melton (Raymond) of Peoria, AZ, son Raymond Lingo (Joan) of Surprise, AZ; relatives Linda Carroll (David) of Broken Arrow, OK, Jackie Lee Stawitz of Broken Arrow, OK, Elizabeth White of Morganton, NC, Jimmy Yount of Newcastle, OK, Joe Yount of Edmond, OK and Lynn Meredith (Maria) of University Park, FL.

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