compton was born in fort sill, oklahoma, the only child of u.s. army colonel louis j. compton and elizabeth boon compton. from the age of 12, she began a lifelong journey of experiencing the separation and risk of loss in war. her father fought in europe in world war ii, her husband served in both the korean war and vietnam war, and one of her sons fought with the 82nd airborne division in panama and the persian gulf war.