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July 30th, 1944
My dearest Martha,
Ive just returned to the wonderful 101st after my injuries I received in Africa. I was greeted by my friends General Boyle and Captain Nay, who had taken control of my unit during my absence. Without hesitation the General and I set out to plan our defense of Sweden, focusing on a town in the middle of the country. The town was significant in that it was in a prime spot to become a suitable refueling station for German armor if they gained control of it.
The Commander was not able to be present during the planning, nor during the actual defense that took place on the 20th of July due to a meeting set up in London with FDR and Churchill. The General and I did not step down from the challenge though, with the help of the Commander's Second, Second Lieutenant Tip, we planned our defense. The General and Lieutenant were to watch an archway and stable that lead toward our bunkers, while my squad watched a depot and the church. I had my best shooter set up in the wheat field, ready to pick off any German's that tried to cross the bridge. I had Sergeant Major Megs set up in the entrance way to the church and Staff Sergeant Sean was set up above a car garage peeking out of an open window to support my shooter in the fields.
The first defense went awry for our main forces guarding the bunker, and we had to pull our injured into the church. Eventually it dropped down to my squad having to try and hold off, but the German's broke our lines. The only reason we were not pushed out of the town completely was by sheer determination. We were able to regain our lost ground quickly and set up for another immediate attack. This time instead of trying to blitzkrieg through the arches as they did the first attack, they split into two separate groups. It was here that my squad excelled in fighting off the invaders, and the unit as a whole succeeded in our defense. During their third, and final, attack the Staff Sergeant and Sergeant Major switched positions and my sharpshooter stayed in the field. It was then that Captain Nay proved why they had been the best choice for taking control of my squad, during the final German push, it was the Captain's B.A.R that stopped then, and forced the German's to retreat out of the town. Following the loss in the town, the German's were pushed out of Sweden altogether. Im itching to follow them back into Denmark and liberate the Danish.
With Love, Your Husband.
P.S. I cant wait to see you again, give our kids all of my love. I'll be back before you know it.
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Mrs. Martha L. Compton
8675 West 309th Street
Dallas, Texas
My dear Mrs. Compton
Allied Commander, USA.
My dearest Martha,
Ive just returned to the wonderful 101st after my injuries I received in Africa. I was greeted by my friends General Boyle and Captain Nay, who had taken control of my unit during my absence. Without hesitation the General and I set out to plan our defense of Sweden, focusing on a town in the middle of the country. The town was significant in that it was in a prime spot to become a suitable refueling station for German armor if they gained control of it.
The Commander was not able to be present during the planning, nor during the actual defense that took place on the 20th of July due to a meeting set up in London with FDR and Churchill. The General and I did not step down from the challenge though, with the help of the Commander's Second, Second Lieutenant Tip, we planned our defense. The General and Lieutenant were to watch an archway and stable that lead toward our bunkers, while my squad watched a depot and the church. I had my best shooter set up in the wheat field, ready to pick off any German's that tried to cross the bridge. I had Sergeant Major Megs set up in the entrance way to the church and Staff Sergeant Sean was set up above a car garage peeking out of an open window to support my shooter in the fields.
The first defense went awry for our main forces guarding the bunker, and we had to pull our injured into the church. Eventually it dropped down to my squad having to try and hold off, but the German's broke our lines. The only reason we were not pushed out of the town completely was by sheer determination. We were able to regain our lost ground quickly and set up for another immediate attack. This time instead of trying to blitzkrieg through the arches as they did the first attack, they split into two separate groups. It was here that my squad excelled in fighting off the invaders, and the unit as a whole succeeded in our defense. During their third, and final, attack the Staff Sergeant and Sergeant Major switched positions and my sharpshooter stayed in the field. It was then that Captain Nay proved why they had been the best choice for taking control of my squad, during the final German push, it was the Captain's B.A.R that stopped then, and forced the German's to retreat out of the town. Following the loss in the town, the German's were pushed out of Sweden altogether. Im itching to follow them back into Denmark and liberate the Danish.
With Love, Your Husband.
P.S. I cant wait to see you again, give our kids all of my love. I'll be back before you know it.
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Headquarters
101st Airborne
APO 867, c/o Post Master, New York
OFFICE OF THE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER
101st Airborne
APO 867, c/o Post Master, New York
OFFICE OF THE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER
August 15th, 1944
Mrs. Martha L. Compton
8675 West 309th Street
Dallas, Texas
My dear Mrs. Compton
You have no doubt been notified by this time of the death of your husband, Brigadier General Jared B. Compton, who passed away at our base hospital on Wednesday, August 8. Confident that the announcement came as a great shock to you, I am writing these few lines to let you know a little more about the circumstances surrounding his death in Denmark.
Your husband finally returned to us in July after sustaining injuries during the first defense in Africa in 1943. He came back ready to lead his unit which had been placed under the care of Captain M. Nay. At first I was afraid that he would be slow to take control, but he proved General Boyle and I both wrong and stepped up to help plan the defense of Sweden and the following attack on Denmark.
It was his idea when we first moved into the German held town of Calais to blow up an armored door with charges to give an access route to where we had thought the main german defenses would be. Even though our first attack had been driven back, General Boyle and your husband gathered the troops for a second attack on the town. It was here that your husband wrote an account of Staff Sergeant Matz describing the Staff Sergeant's bravery in driving the last of the German Defenses back just in time for more American troops to help reinforce our troops.
Because we had attacked the same route twice, it was then that your husband talked the General, and the troops into following him into a charge straight into the German Defenses to catch them off guard. Your husband not only led the troops in this daring raid, but when he realized that the attack had failed and the German Defenses would hold; he ordered the troops to fall back. It was here that Brigadier General Compton showed why I had picked him to be my third in command, for he was the last man to to reach the safety of our headquarters set up in Calais. Had he been in the condition, you may have reached his bedside in Oslo before he passed away.
We hope that it will be a comfort to you to know that your husband was given full military honors at the funeral. Our deceased comrades here rest in a beautiful, well-kept cemetery near the base. Each man occupies an individual grave and a beautiful white cross is placed at the head of the grave. Each man's name appears on the cross
May the benedictions of our Heavenly Father be on you and other surviving members of the family
Most Sincerely, Mav W. ReckYour husband finally returned to us in July after sustaining injuries during the first defense in Africa in 1943. He came back ready to lead his unit which had been placed under the care of Captain M. Nay. At first I was afraid that he would be slow to take control, but he proved General Boyle and I both wrong and stepped up to help plan the defense of Sweden and the following attack on Denmark.
It was his idea when we first moved into the German held town of Calais to blow up an armored door with charges to give an access route to where we had thought the main german defenses would be. Even though our first attack had been driven back, General Boyle and your husband gathered the troops for a second attack on the town. It was here that your husband wrote an account of Staff Sergeant Matz describing the Staff Sergeant's bravery in driving the last of the German Defenses back just in time for more American troops to help reinforce our troops.
Because we had attacked the same route twice, it was then that your husband talked the General, and the troops into following him into a charge straight into the German Defenses to catch them off guard. Your husband not only led the troops in this daring raid, but when he realized that the attack had failed and the German Defenses would hold; he ordered the troops to fall back. It was here that Brigadier General Compton showed why I had picked him to be my third in command, for he was the last man to to reach the safety of our headquarters set up in Calais. Had he been in the condition, you may have reached his bedside in Oslo before he passed away.
We hope that it will be a comfort to you to know that your husband was given full military honors at the funeral. Our deceased comrades here rest in a beautiful, well-kept cemetery near the base. Each man occupies an individual grave and a beautiful white cross is placed at the head of the grave. Each man's name appears on the cross
May the benedictions of our Heavenly Father be on you and other surviving members of the family
Allied Commander, USA.
