"Strawberry Valley Youth Dies in Korea," reported the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian.

Charles R. Compton was born in Fresno, California, on December 2, 1928, to Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Compton. The Compton family later moved to the Strawberry Valley portion of the Pajaro Valley where he and his sisters, Lucille and Helen, were raised. Compton attended the Lake Elementary School followed by Salinas High School. After leaving Salinas High School, he joined the state division of forestry and for the next seven years served at the Castroville, Moss Landing, Carmel Hill and Alma forestry stations.

Charles Compton was drafted into the US Army on December 20, 1950, spent his first three weeks of basic training at Ford Ord and completed his training at Camp Roberts, California. After a short leave at home, he was shipped to Japan on May 21, 1951. Two days after his arrival he was deployed to Korea. Compton was assigned as an automatic rifleman with the 27th Regimental Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division assigned to Kumwha in what was referred to as the "Iron Triangle" sector.
“When armistice negotiations began on 10 July 1951, the war entered a new stage. The lines became static, with limited objective attacks and probing tank-infantry patrols replacing sweeping offensives. In mid-July the 25th Division returned to the front line, and by the end of the month was in its previous positions in the Ch'orwon-Kumhwa area. The division occupied these positions until mid-December, conducting frequent patrols and several company-sized raids to destroy enemy bunkers. The division also improved its own defensive positions. Artillery bombardments of enemy lines and ambushes of enemy patrols were also common activities.”

On September 12, 1951, while fighting in North Korea, Private Charles R. Compton was killed in action. His body was recovered, returned to the US and following a funeral, was interred in the Pajaro Valley Memorial Park.

His awards include the Purple Heart.

(ABMC; NARAK; WRP September 25, 1951 1:1, WRP December 1, 1951 1:1; History.Army.Mil, 25th Infantry Division in Korea, http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/Korea/25id-KW-IP.htm, [16 September 2008])