Lynn "BUCK" Compton Our dad, the beloved Lynn Davis "Buck" Compton, age 90, passed away quietly and peacefully at home in Burlington, Washington, February 25, 2012. People around the world know the name of Buck Compton as a commissioned officer with Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne, the elite military unit known as the Band of Brothers. Buck was portrayed in the HBO miniseries by actor Neal McDonough. Born December 31, 1921, in Los Angeles, California to Roby and Ethel Compton, Lynn was named after his grandfather Lyndley, but gave himself the nickname "Buck" in grammar school, taking a cue from a star catcher for the Angels, "Truck" Hannah. During the Great Depression, Buck worked in the movies as a child actor, appearing in several films as an extra alongside such greats as Mickey Rooney and Charlie Chaplin. During his time at LA High he played baseball and football. His 1938 football team was LA City Champions. In college, Buck was a two-sport athlete for UCLA, again playing football and baseball and excelling in both. In football, he played in the 1943 Rose Bowl. In baseball Buck was named All Pacific Coast Conference leading the league in batting with a .340 batting average. In both sports the legendary Jackie Robinson was a teammate. World War II disrupted Buck's studies. He graduated from ROTC and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He parachuted into Normandy during the early hours of D-Day, was part of the assault group that destroyed the German artillery during the battle at Brecourt Manor, fought on the line at Carentan, helped liberate Holland during Operation Market Garden, and fought in the freezing cold of the Battle of Bastogne. He was awarded the Silver Star for valor in the face of the enemy, the Purple Heart for being wounded, the Bronze Star and many other medals. Following the war, Buck worked his way through Loyola Law School as a policeman for the LAPD, and later as a detective in the Central Burglary Division. He was admitted to the California Bar in 1949. He served as Deputy District Attorney for LA County, 1951-1970, and had extensive trial experience involving the prosecution of major felony cases of all types. As Chief Deputy District Attorney, he served as second-in-command of LA County, the largest prosecuting agency in the world. Buck served as the lead prosecutor in the trial of Sirhan B. Sirhan for the murder of Robert F. Kennedy. In 1970, Buck was appointed by then Governor Ronald Reagan to the California Court of Appeal as an Associate Justice. During his term on the bench, Justice Compton authored more than 2,000 written opinions in all areas of law. In retirement years, Buck was a sought-after speaker, and in his spare time provided policy and political commentary on a radio station based in Anacortes. Buck spoke to schools and service groups all around the country and spent countless hours signing autographs for fans around the world. A widower since 1994, Buck lived in the Pacific Northwest where he was constantly surrounded by family and friends. Buck was preceded in death by his parents and by his beloved wife Donna. He is survived by his daughters, Syndee and Tracy, his grandchildren Samantha, Lyndsie, Shannon, and Hayley. Buck wrote in the dedication to his memoir that his family was "the greatest thing that ever happened to me." In later years, Buck professed a faith in Jesus Christ. We are confident he is in heaven today surrounded by loved ones. A public celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 24, 2012, 2:00 pm at His Place Church in Burlington, WA.