World War II Honoree

Dolphus Edward Compere, M. D.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Dallas, Texas

Honored By

G. Holman King

REPORTED TO ACTIVE DUTY AT CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA ON 24 AUGUST, 1943. ASSIGNED AS SURGEON FOR THE 237TH MEDICAL DISPENSARY AVIATION, A SMALL PORTABLE SURGICAL HOSPITAL ATTACHED TO THE 3RD AIR COMMANDO GROUP, FIFTH AIR FORCE. WAS PART OF MEDICAL TEAM EXAMINING AND TREATING BATAAN DEATH MARCH SURVIVORS AND OTHER ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR LIBERATED 30 JANUARY, 1945 FROM THE CABANATUAN PRISON CAMP ON LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE STATIONED AT LAOAG, LUZON, TREATED MANY CASUALTIES AND MILD EPIDEMIC OF SPINAL MENINGITIS. GROUP'S P-51 FIGHTERS ENGAGED IN AERIAL COMBAT AND BOMBING MISSIONS ON JAPANESE CAMPS. AFTER UNIT RELOCATED TO IE SHIMA NEAR OKINAWA UNIT FLEW MISSIONS TO JAPAN MAINLAND. SHORTLY AFTER JAPANESE SURRENDER UNIT'S FIGHTERS FLEW ESCORT OF JAPANESE SURRENDER PARTY INTO IE SHIMA AND THEN TRANSPORTED THEM TO MANILA IN UNIT'S TRANSPORT PLANES TO NEGOTIATE TERMS OF SURRENDER. FLEW TO TOKYO TO EXAMINE AND TREAT ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR BEFORE THEY WERE EVACUATED. DISCHARGED 10 MARCH, 1946 WITH RANK OF MAJOR, MEDICAL CORPS.