Call of Duty: My Life Before, During, and After the Band of Brothers

by Lynn Compton and Marcus Brotherton

Book Overview

The national bestselling World War II memoir by Buck Compton, a hero from the famed Band of Brothers, with a foreword by John McCain.

Look for the Band of Brothers miniseries, now available to stream on Netflix

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.

This is the true story...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425227871
• ISBN13: 9780425227879
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Dutton Caliber
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 2.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

I loved the story of his life! A very accomplished man and a great book!

His stories of his time in WW II were certainly interesting. His life after the war is truly amazing! If you like WW II stories or stories from the Band of Brothers then you’ll really enjoy this book.

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.

What a life!

Buck Compton has lead an incredible life. His book will enlighten you to some of the inconsistencies in the Band of Brothers story that will provide a more accurate account of what actually happened. Buck comes across as a very likable guy who is very grounded and true to his values. Like Malarky's book, I found it impossible to put this one down as well.

An Extraordinary Life

As the title states, "My Life Before, During and After the Band of Brothers," this book is about a lifetime. Lt. Colonel Compton has lived a very full life complete with tragedy, joy, public service and combat. As there are so many works concerning Easy Company's exploits during World War II, he wanted to refrain from re-hashing the story that has been told so many times. I have read many works concerning Easy Company: * Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters - by Richard Winters * Brothers In Battle, Best of Friends - by William Gaurnere, Edward Heffron, Robyn Post * Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich - by David Kenyon Webster * Band of Brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest - by Stephen E. Ambrose Reading all of these efforts provides those interested in this specific company of the Screaming Eagles (101st A/B) with a very complete picture (and contradictions). Regardless of what is stated in the title of this book, some reviewers still complained that Mr. Compton didn't provide enough coverage of his WWII experiences. What more could a reader need to know about these men? What hasn't been told? What still needs to be told? After reading Call of Duty, I was confronted with some real facts about these amazing men: they were ordinary American citizens. They had lives prior to the outbreak of war and those that survived lived their lives to the fullest after the war. Mr. Compton is no exception. His life prior to the war was far different from Winters, Gaurnere and Heffron. He grew up in Los Angeles rubbing shoulders with Hollywood actors, played sports with future legends and California governmental giants. Compton's post-war life was far from ordinary. From his time on the streets of LA as a detective (while attending night law school), his job in the LA County DA's office and his time spent as an appellate judge. He was far from ordinary yet he wasn't too different from his E Company brothers. If you read the other offerings (listed above) before you read Call of Duty, you will have an appreciation for this book.

An Exceptional American Patriot

Of all the members of Easy Company, 506th PIR of Band of Brothers fame, Buck Compton has had the most diverse experiences. One of the great features of Buck's autobiography is that you have the opportunity to get to know him and his extraordinary life, from working on the sets as a child extra in Hollywood in his native city of Los Angeles, to his years as a Los Angeles Detective, Deputy Prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles (managing the Senator Robert Kennedy murder), to Appellate Court Judge for the State of California. In between, Buck recalls his three years in the Army and his particpation in the three major campaigns of Western Europe, D-Day, Operation Market-Garden (Holland) and Bastogne (Battle of the Bulge)as second platoon leader in Easy Company. Buck wrote his book in an exciting style that keeps the reader focused and entertained. This is an excellent read and provides yet another perspective from a key member of the internationally famous Band of Brothers.A must-add to your collection!