Christopher Frank Kompare was born on Christmas Day 1922 in New York City to Antonin Kompare and Rosalia Yurkas. His parents were married in New York City on February 26, 1922. Both of his parents immigrated to the United States from Slovenia. He had a younger sister Rosalie. The family moved to Albany, NY sometime prior to 1930 where his dad found work for the New York Central Railroad. Chris graduated from The Cathedral Academy in Albany, NY in 1941 where he excelled in sports, especially football where he was appointed to the “All Albany” football team. His yearbook is full of personal notes and signatures from the many friends he had there. After graduation, he worked for the New York Central Railroad in Albany, NY.

In November 1941, Chris joined the National Guard in Albany, NY and served with them until he joined the Navy on July 15, 1942. He was 5'-10 1/2” tall and weighed 173 pounds at the time. He had brown eyes, brown hair and a light complexion. He had a scar on his forehead. He received his basic training in Newport, R.I. and his advanced training in Navigation at U. of Illinois in Urbana. After graduation, he is assigned to the U.S.S. Dickerson and traveled to New York City to report aboard. For the next eight months the Dickerson provided escort duties in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Chris visited numerous ports while serving including England, Ireland, Algiers, Gibraltar, Morocco, Casablanca, Cuba, Puerto Rico and finally Charleston, South Carolina where Dickerson was converted to a High Speed Transport APD-21 on August 21 1943.

From there Dickerson steamed through the Panama Canal into the Pacific. While in the Pacific she provided support for numerous landings and stayed in continuous action through July 1944. She then sailed to Pearl Harbor and onto the West Coast for refitting and repair. It is on the West Coast that Chris met Janet Ralston. From letters that Janet later wrote to Chris' sister the two were taken with each other, certain to be sharing the future together.

Dickerson returned to duty in November 1944, first at Luzon and then Iwo Jima. From Iwo Jima, she went on to support the invasion of Okinawa. On April 1 and 2, 1945, Kamikazes attacked the Dickerson at Kerama Retto. According to eye witness accounts, “One of the attacking Kamikazes planes approached the destroyer-transport... and slashed off the tops off [sic] her two stacks before smashing into the base of her bridge, toppling her mast and starting intense gasoline fires.” Almost immediately, a second plane scored a hit on her forecastle tearing a hole in her deck almost the complete width of the ship. Quartermaster Chris Kompare was at his station on the bridge as the ship's helmsman at the time.

Kompare was initially considered missing and a month later, in May 1945, the family received word from Lt. (jg) Ebert (the senior surviving member of the crew) that he was presumed killed in action (see letter below). Chris had written a “just in case letter” that is transcribed below. It speaks to the type of person he was. He is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii. Quatermaster 3rd Class Kompare was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Purple Heart.

Author's Note: The author would like to thank Douglas Brenner for letting him review the incredible collection of Chris Kompare's letters and memorabilia from World War II. Thanks also to Doug for a copy of his father's book on Chris. Thanks to Chris' sister, Rosalie (whom I never met) for collecting and caring for these treasures for so many years and having the foresight to pass these on so that they might survive. Anyone that would like to know more about Chris and the life he gave is encouraged to read David W. Brenner's account, “The Life and Letters of Christopher F. Kompare, U.S.N.”, ISBN 978-1-57087-845-9.

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at nez13820 at gmail dot com. 

Sources:

Brenner, David, W., The Life and Letters of Christopher F. Kompare, Professional Press, Chapel Hill, NC, 2015.

Comtois, Pierre, V., Kerama Retto: Key to Victory at Okinawa, accessed at https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/kerama-retto-key-to-victory-at-okinawa-2/ May, 2, 2023.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56113335/chris-frank-kompare: accessed 03 May 2023), memorial page for QM3 Chris Frank Kompare (25 Dec 1922–2 Apr 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56113335, citing Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA; Maintained by PAllred (contributor 48048940).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151840816/rosalia-kompare: accessed 03 May 2023), memorial page for Rosalia Yurkas Kompare (3 Sep 1899–Jun 1983), Find a Grave Memorial ID 151840816, citing Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons, Otsego County, New York, USA; Maintained by Kathy Sturgess Ouimet (contributor 47373862).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151840732/anton-kompare: accessed 03 May 2023), memorial page for Anton Kompare (13 Jun 1894–Oct 1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 151840732, citing Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons, Otsego County, New York, USA; Maintained by Kathy Sturgess Ouimet (contributor 47373862).

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Collection: New York, New York Guard Service Cards and Enlistment Records, 1906-1918, 1940-1948; Series: B2000; Film Number: 51

Rickard, J (24 January 2018), USS Dickerson (DD-157/ APD-21) , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Dickerson_DD157_APD21.html

Year: 1940; Census Place: Albany, Albany, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02821; Page: 62A; Enumeration District: 63-103

Just in Case Letter Transcription Below:

See pg. 66. Brenner, David, W., “The Life and Letters of Christopher F. Kompare, U.S.N.”

January 26, 1943

Dear Mom, Dad & Sis,

I thought I would never have to write a letter like this as long as I lived, but now I don't know how long I'll live so the time has come to write it.

Mom, Dad, Sis I want you to know that if I should ever fade out of the picture it was God's will that I leave this short life on earth for eternal happiness in his kingdom.

My death will mean very little to anyone but the family. To me it will mean dying a glorious death knowing that my life was not in vain in doing my small part in liberating peoples throughout the wold from under the tyranny of maniacs such as Hitler and his evil partners in crime. Losing me will mean a small sacrifice towards that goal.

Choosing the navy was my wish and as long as I served as a member of the United States Naval Forces were the happiest days of my short life. Being with my other mates has brought to my conclusion that these men are the best fighting men in the world. Their loyalty and courage can't be surpassed by the Axis in any manner whatsoever. I am indeed fortunate to have served with men of such caliber. To them I extend my heartiest best wishes and safe journey homeward bound to their loved ones.

Mother, Dad and Sis, I am not afraid to die because I have enjoyed my life to the utmost. Short it may have been but having parents and sister like you to take with me as a beautiful memory to the sailors grave completes my happy life.

I want you all to know that when the time came to say good-bye to the outside world my thoughts and wonderful memories of my life were of you. I passed away happy to have been part of your life and proud, very proud to have had parents to guide my life as wonderfully as you always instructed me to.

God bless you all and may your continued lives be as beautiful as mine was.

As always, with loads of Love
Your sailor son,
Chris

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