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Product Description: FOREWARD BY SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN:
“The “Band of Brothers” story rightly took America by storm. In telling of that remarkable generation of men who risked everything – everything – to defeat the evils of fascism, the tale of Easy Company’s bravery and valor has inspired its own, new generation of Americans.
As rightly it should. America has relied throughout its history on the courage and honor of extraordinary citizens who, though they may come from the most ordinary of situations, stand up when duty calls them to act. The “Band of Brothers,” that company of citizen- soldiers who helped our country wage and win World War II, represented that timeless virtue, the unselfish determination to serve a cause greater than our self-interest. In choosing this course, no matter its cost, an entire generation of men and women helped save the world from the evils of Nazism. We today, and all who follow, are in their debt.
Men and women, no matter how meager their origins or difficult their circumstances, possess within them the potential to alter the course of history. Buck Compton knew this, and this understanding shaped his life and destiny. He knew that there is no greatness without courage, no faith in country without devotion to fellows, no commitment to duty without service to others. Through his life and his words, we can find much to admire in men like him.
Second Lieutenant Compton commanded the second platoon of Easy Company in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the famed 101st Airborne Division about which so many tales are told. In an episode familiar to any viewer of the “Band of Brothers” series, in 1944 Buck Compton and others assaulted a German battery operating four 105 mm howitzers directed at Utah Beach, disabling the guns and routing the enemy. Buck was awarded the Silver Star for that action. Later, after being wounded in an operation aimed at seizing bridges in the Netherlands, Buck returned to his unit in time for the month-long siege that would in time become known as the Battle of the Bulge.
In the course of my military service, I have learned what it’s like to fight on foreign soil. When bullets begin flying and fighting grows thick, the ability of any individual to make correct decisions is sorely tested. Indecisiveness can be costly; poor judgment deadly. As this memoir so ably details, Buck Compton’s performance in battle demonstrates that firmness and strategic thinking can save lives. In critical moments on the World War II battlefront, Buck Compton was there: fighting, persevering, and never relenting.
Yet Buck’s story doesn’t end there. He returned from war to a life of public service, measuring success not only by victories on the battlefield but also through his conduct during seasons of peace. Turning down an offer to play minor league baseball, he focused on a career in law, became a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department and, ultimately, an Associate Justice on the California Appeals Court. In reaching a level of success in civilian life commensurate with his victories in battle, Buck Compton showed us the many ways in which Americans fight for justice.
This memoir does his story the service it deserves. This book is the next best thing to having this courageous, thoughtful, and exceedingly modest hero relate in person the adventures and exploits of Easy Company, the prosecution of Sirhan Sirhan, and other tales from the life of an extraordinary American called to duty in an extraordinary time. In understanding the life of honor and service Buck Compton has bestowed upon his country, we glimpse anew the greatness that is America.
—US Senator John McCain
Phoenix, Arizona
January, 2008
The true story of an American hero—in his own words.
As part of the elite 101st Airborne paratroopers, Lt. Lynn “Buck” Compton fought in critical battles of World War II as a member of Easy Company, immortalized as the Band of Brothers.
Here, Buck Compton tells his own story for the first time. From his years as a two-sport UCLA star who played baseball with Jackie Robinson and football in the 1943 Rose Bowl, through his legendary post- World War II legal career as a prosecutor, in which he helped convict Sirhan Sirhan for the murder of Robert F. Kennedy, Buck Compton truly embodies the American Dream: college sports star, esteemed combat veteran, detective, attorney, judge.
This is the true story of a real-life hero who traveled to a faraway place and put his life on the line for the cause of freedom—and an insightful memoir about courage, leadership, camaraderie, compassion, and the opportunities for success that can only happen in America. Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-04
An Example For All Americans
As the Title states this is about Before, During, and After WWII. I never did consider these guys ''The Greatest Generation'' because they won a Popular War that our Government wanted to win. Americans could win any war that We Were Allowed to Win. These guys did, however, go through the Great Depression as kids and most had developed a sense of responsability in their early years. As a child Compton worked as an extra on movie sets. He gave his earnings to his parents to help support the family. He went to UCLA on a football scholarship but had to work on campus four hours a day. When he finally got in the Army,,he could have stayed in the states and played regimental baseball but chose to be a paratrooper.
He hits the high spots of his time spent in the war. If you want to say he was ''Defensive'' ...he probably had some good reasons. I believe that Compton, among others, got shafted in the Mini-series. From reading his book and other little tid-bits that I have picked up, he left the line at Bastogne from a serious case of trenchfoot. When he was trying to get back to the unit from the hospital he ran into an old friend that got him a job in Paris for the rest of the war. I didn;t notice any other officers turning down chances to get promoted to Headquarters or rear-eschelon jobs. The mini-series made it sound like he spent the rest of the war in a padded cell or some such thing. Whatever the truth is,,,Compton spent more time on the Line than most of the Officers in and around Easy Company He couldn't have told much that hasn't been told several times in the other BOB books.
When a person comes home from a War it's easy to have some self-pity and get an attitude. You just left a bunch of guys that you loved and had everything in common with and now you are all alone with a bunch of people that don't even have a clue.
Compton hit the ground running. This guy worked full time as a policeman and went to Law School full time as well. He excelled at everything he did,,,not because it was dropped in his lap but because he worked his tail off. This should serve as an example for the returning servicemen of today. Compton's depth of character was what impressed me about his life. As a paratrooper, myself, jumping out of an airplane is no big deal,,, dealing with life,,day after day, year after year is what's tough.
He talks about some of his more interesting cases from his days as a Prosecutor,,, especially the RFK assasination case.
I highly recommend this book. The Americans that went to war in WWII were mostly Citizen Soldiers. This is a story of one citizen that helped win the war and the kind of citizen that makes this country great.
War changes a person. That should be evident from reading Ambrose's book or watching the Mini-Series. These guys had all varied lives before, during, and after the war. From that point of view this book goes into more detail than most. I've read them all. I really can't pick one book and say it was the Best or Worst. I can say that this book certainly adds a lot to the Band of Brothers Reading List and is a Must-Read for the Serious BOB Buff.
Rating:
Date: 2008-06-26
The rest of the story!
Lynn Buck Compton is a well deserved member of the "Greatest Generation". His book is, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story". The four words that jump out at me are "I did my job" in reference to WW2. My father said the same thing. This generation saw their role in saving the world for freedom as simply a job. Each person did his or her job to the best of their ability. Buck Compton explains to us how these same attributes were carried on after the war. His life is a great commentary on the making of the "right stuff" in America. Only in America would the sequence of events in his life lead to the life he led. I think Buck would agree "God Bless America" and keep her forever free! Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-25
A view of his whole life not just WWII
Buck Compton's biography covers his life before and the exciting life after "Band of Brothers"
Although I would have liked to have read more about the WWII portion of his life, I still found his life exciting.
Buck points out the inaccuracies of the miniseries and this helps to fill out the picture of the men of E company.
Maybe it is not the best "Band of Brothers" biography but it still is a good read. Rating:
Date: 2008-06-24
Easy Company - Continues to Inspire
Congratulations to Buck Compton and thank you for telling us your inspiring story! Thank you for showing us the similarity between the Nazis you fought in WWII and today's terrorists. I can hardly go a day without thinking of the men of the 506th PIR. Your experiences in WWII have become a metaphor of life for me - I liken the Germans you encountered hiding behind the bushes in Europe to the challenges and troubles that life throws at all of us and try to face them with the same steely determination that you did. I sent this book to my son who recently graduated from college for several reasons - one being that it shows young people how careers are shaped by a combination of opportunity, chance and hard work! Rating:
Date: 2008-06-13
Excellent Read
This is an enjoyable, entertaining and inspirational account of Buck Compton's life! Buck is extremely honest, candid and humble in this account of his accomplishments and set backs! I wish I could have read this book when I was younger. It's a shining example of what a guy can do with hard work, a good attitude and a friendly demeanor.
Very interesting to read about the war and E. Company from another officer's perspective. Thus far, Dick Winters is the only E. Company officer (that I know of) who has written about this group of extraordinary men.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the men of the Greatest Generation.
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