Lynn Compton

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Lynn Compton
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
Awards
Spouse(s)Donna
Children2 daughters
Other workDistrict Attorney, judge,
LAPD
detective, radio commentator, author

Lynn Davis Compton (December 31, 1921 – February 25, 2012), known as Buck Compton, was an American jurist, police officer, and soldier. In his legal career, he served as a prosecutor and

Band of Brothers by Neal McDonough.[3]

Early life

Compton was born in Los Angeles, California. Early on, he gave himself the nickname "Buck" due to feeling that Lynn was a name better suited to a girl.[4] His mother Ethel worked for movie studios and a young Compton worked as an extra in films. He was thrown off the set of Modern Times after angering the film's star Charlie Chaplin.[4] He was an athlete at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), being named an all-conference catcher and All-American selection in 1942.[5][6] Among his baseball teammates was Jackie Robinson.[7] Compton was later inducted into the UCLA Baseball Hall of Fame.[6] He majored in physical education, with a minor in education.[7] He joined the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity in 1940. He also started at guard with the UCLA football team in the 1943 Rose Bowl game on January 1, 1943.[8]

Military service

At UCLA, Compton participated in

506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division before Operation Overlord.[11] During the company's action at Brécourt Manor, Compton and others, under the leadership of Lieutenant Richard Winters, assaulted a German battery of four 105 mm howitzers firing on Utah Beach, disabling the guns and routing the enemy.[12] Compton was awarded the Silver Star for his action in disabling the guns.[13] Episode two ("Day of Days") of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers depicts this assault. During the battle, he threw a grenade that was said to have had no arc and hit the German soldier on the back of the helmet.[14]

Later in 1944, Compton was shot through the buttocks while participating in

Rhine River into Germany. The bullet traveled sideways, through one side of the buttocks and out the other side. After a partial recovery, he returned to E Company in time for the siege in the frozen Ardennes that became known as the Battle of the Bulge
.

Compton was evacuated for severe

Joe Toye and William Guarnere.[16] Compton wrote in his autobiography, "...although I was affected by the horrors of Bastogne, I do not believe I was clinically shell shocked, as the series portrays me. In real life, while I was hollering for the medic, trying to figure out what to do, I remember two distinct thoughts: How are we going to help the wounded guys?...Maybe this is the time the Germans are really going to get us all."[17] In December 1945 he was discharged from service and returned home to California.[18]

In 1947, he joined the Air Force Reserve, serving in the

Office of Special Investigations and eventually Judge Advocate General Corps before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1970.[19]

Medals and decorations (Army only)

Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge with 2 combat jump stars
Silver Star
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Oak Leaf Cluster
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
French Croix de Guerre with palm
French Liberation Medal

Later years

In 1946 he turned down an offer to play minor league baseball, choosing instead to concentrate on a career in law.

Los Angeles, joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1946 and became a detective in the Central Burglary Division.[21] He left the LAPD for the District Attorney's office in 1951 as a deputy district attorney, and was promoted in 1964 to chief deputy district attorney.[22]

During his time with the District Attorney's office, he successfully prosecuted

state of Washington
until his death.

Compton's memoirs, entitled

Richard Speight, Jr. McDonough developed a friendship with Compton while making the miniseries and kept in touch afterwards. McDonough's son Morgan is nicknamed "Little Buck" in honor of Compton.[26]

Failing health and death

In January 2012 Compton suffered a heart attack. On February 25, 2012, he died at a daughter's home in Burlington, Washington. His wife Donna died previously in 1994.[27]

References

  1. ^ Compton, p.66.
  2. ^ Brotherton, Marcus (February 26, 2012). "In honor of Lt. Buck Compton, 1921-2012". Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  3. ^ Lewis, Andy (February 28, 2012). "Band of Brothers' Vet Lynn 'Buck' Compton Dies at 90, Actor Neal McDonough played the sergeant in the 2001 HBO mini-series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Weber, Bruce (February 28, 2012). "Buck Compton, Decorated Veteran, Dies at 90". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  5. ^ ""Band of Brothers" soldier dies..." Associated Press via Yahoo News. February 28, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "UCLA alumnus and "Band of Brothers" veteran Lynn "Buck" Compton dies". Daily Bruin. March 7, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Compton, p.60.
  8. The Los Angeles Times
    . Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  9. ^ Compton, p.63.
  10. ^ Compton, p.88.
  11. ^ Compton, p.94.
  12. ^
    ISBN 978-0-425-21970-6
    .
  13. ^ Compton, p.107.
  14. ^ Hedash, Kara (January 1, 2024). "Band Of Brothers' Buck Compton "Goof" Was Actually Deliberate (& The Finale Proves It)". ScreenRant. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Compton, p.132.
  16. ^ Ambrose, p.201.
  17. ^ Compton, p.143.
  18. ^ "Band of Brothers' Buck Compton: One Man's Call of Duty". Warfare History Network. October 19, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  19. ^ "Jurist, War Hero, Prosecutor 'Buck' Compton Dead at 90". www.metnews.com. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  20. ^ Compton, pp.172-174.
  21. ^ Compton, p.161.
  22. ^ Compton, pp.180-181.
  23. ^ Compton, p.209.
  24. ^ Compton, p.xi.
  25. ^ Compton, p.237.
  26. ^ ""Band of Brothers" soldier dies". Associated Press via Yahoo News. February 28, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  27. ^ McLellan, Dennis (February 29, 2012). "Lynn D. 'Buck' Compton dies at 90; judge also known for WWII service". Los Angeles Times.

Bibliography

External links

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