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.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

In Memory of Pvt. Clayton Richard, KIA 1944, 102d Infantry Division



July 10, 2018

Purple Hearts Reunited

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Relatives of three dead U.S. serviceman gathered at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on Tuesday evening to get the lost Purple Heart medals that their loved ones earned during World War II.

Organized by Purple Hearts Reunited, the medals were awarded to three people. One of them was Staff Sgt. Marinum Gillesse, who was wounded by a sniper in the shoulder on Feb. 26, 1944. He died in 2003 after working as an attendance officer with Grand Rapids Public Schools following his time in the Army. Gillesse's brother, William Gillesse, received the medal.

Pvt. James Nameth Jr. was also awarded a Purple Heart. He was killed in action during World War II in the Philippines. He was 19 years old when he died. His niece, Michele McNulty, received his medal.

Pvt. Clayton Richard was also honored with a Purple Heart. He was killed in 1944 in Germany as he served in the 102nd Infantry Division. Richard's nephew, Dennis Richard, accepted the medal.

Since 2012, Purple Hearts Reunited has returned over 450 lost medals.  Purple Hearts Reunited was established in Vermont on July 23, 2012.  As a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit foundation, Purple Hearts Reunited is the only organization in the country returning lost or stolen medals to veterans and military families at no cost. Purple Hearts Reunited spends a considerable amount of time researching and locating the original recipient or family and, when possible, conducts a “Return Ceremony” to reunite the veteran or family with the medal. To date, Purple Hearts Reunited has returned the service medals of more than 200 veterans and is currently working on over 300 lost medals that need a home.  In the case that a veteran or family cannot be found, a home of honor is located for the medal, such as a military museum.  Purple Hearts Reunited also takes time to enroll these heroes into the Purple Heart Hall of Honor and has successfully enrolled over 1500 recipients.


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