Successful Soldiers

A number of U.S. presidents – George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and John Kennedy – were war veterans. Their military training has molded them to stay tough despite the pressure of maintaining the nation’s stability as the leader of the American people. They represent what war veterans are capable of. The skills, work ethics, and discipline that war veterans have learned as soldiers would inevitably translate to success in the real world. This article gives us a glimpse of the war experience and public service career of Lt. Lynn "Buck" Compton, a highly esteemed officer in the 101st Airborne during World War II. As part of the elite paratroopers, Compton fought in the most famous battles of the war. Afterwards, he became a prosecutor, and helped convict Sirhan Sirhan for the murder of Robert Kennedy.

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Call him "Buck"

If you are familiar with the epic mini-series "Band of Brothers", an HBO screenplay based on the novel written by acclaimed military historian Stephen Ambrose, then the name Lt. Lynn "Buck" Compton will surely ring a bell. Compton, played by actor Neal McDonough, was a highly esteemed officer in Easy Company, part of the famed "Screaming Eagles" of the 101st Airborne. The unit was awarded with the Presidential Unit Citation for holding the main line of resistance during Hitler’s last counteroffensive in the Battle of the Bulge.

HBO’s epic Band of Brothers mini-series, which featured Neal McDonough as Lt. Compton

After his career in the Army ended, Compton devoted his life to public service. He fought for justice not only in the battlefield, but in the courtroom as well.

The Legacy of the Paratroopers

The use of airborne infantry was still at the experimental stages during World War II. Unlike regular infantry units, paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines, running the risk of being immediately surrounded and killed by the enemy. Training such soldiers was seen to be more challenging, since sudden penetration into enemy territory involved a great deal of physical and mental preparation.

An issue of LIFE magazine featured the paratroopers, stating that you had to be the best to become a part of this elite group. Most army units thought they were the best, but for its accomplishments and contributions to the war, the airborne infantry truly stood out.

From Star Player to Soldier

Buck Compton was born in Los Angeles on December 31, 1921. He was a gifted athlete. He had played for the UCLA baseball team, where he was as an All-American catcher, and then for the UCLA football team that competed in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1943. A month after the Rose Bowl, Compton attended the Officers Candidates School and underwent jump school at Fort Benning for 3 months. In December 1943, as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne. Along with other troops from the Allied forces, Easy Company began preparing for the invasion of Europe. (49-50)

Private David Webster, an English major from Harvard, described Compton as "a friendly and genial man who was everyone’s favorite." (114)

Compton was well-liked. He enjoyed mingling with his men and the non-commissioned officers. He spent time in getting to know them, making friends, gambling and sharing stories about sports and college life. When relieved from duty, he walked among the enlisted men not as an officer, but as a fellow soldier.

D-Day

June 6, 1944: the date set for the Allied Invasion of Hitler’s Fortress Europe. Airborne divisions dropped into Normandy, France to capture key towns in that area. Many paratroopers missed their drop zones, or never even made it, because of the barrage of anti-aircraft fire.

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