Compton was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the only child of United States. Army Colonel Louis J. Compton and Elizabeth Boon Compton. Her father fought in Europe in World 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.
Compton was a graduate of Chevy Chase Junior College, Chevy Chase, Maryland and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, prior to her marriage.
She was depicted in the film We Were Soldiers by actress Madeleine Stowe. Her efforts and complaints in the aftermath of the Battle of Iowa Drang prompted the United States. Army to set up survivor support networks and casualty notification teams consisting of uniformed officers, which are still in use. From the age of 12, she began a lifelong journey of experiencing the separation and risk of loss in war.
She volunteered with the Red Cross in the Army hospitals.
She supported the day care centers and worked with the wives clubs to take better care of the enlisted soldier and his family. Moore was especially active in setting up the Army Community Service organizations that are now a permanent fixture on all army posts and which assist each soldier as they process into their new duty stations.
Casualty notification
The Iowa Drang Campaign was the first major ground engagement involving United States. forces in Vietnam. The Army had not yet set up an adequate system of notifying the next of kin of battlefield fatalities.
Instead, the telegrams were given to taxicab drivers for delivery, as depicted in the film We Were Soldiers.
Unlike the film depiction, Moore did not actually assume responsibility for the delivery of the telegrams, however, she accompanied the cab drivers who delivered the telegrams and assisted in the death notifications, grieving with the widows and families of men killed in battle, and attended the funerals of those who fell under her husband"s command. Her complaints to the Pentagon, and the example that she set, prompted the Army to immediately set up notification teams consisting of a uniformed officer and a chaplain. Julia Compton Moore Award
One of Julia Moore"s more important contributions to the quality of Army family life is summed up by the Ben Franklin Global Forum"s press release, announcing the establishment of the Julia Compton Moore Award:
The award recognizes the civilian spouses of soldiers for "Outstanding Contributions to the United States Army".
Moore was portrayed by Madeleine Stowe in the 2002 film We Were Soldiers.
