Smoke Jumping on the Western Fire Line: Conscientious Objectors During the World War II

by Mark Matthews

Book Overview

During the Vietnam era, conscientious objectors received both sympathy and admiration from many Americans. It was not so during World War II. The pacifists who chose to sit out that war-some 72,000 men-were publicly derided as "yellowbellies" or extreme cowards. After all, why would anyone refuse to fight against fascism in "the good war"?

This book tells the story of one important group of World War II conscientious objectors: the men who...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806137665
• ISBN13: 9780806137667
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Educational and Exciting

This is very detailed history of conscientious objection to war as well as the development of smoke jumping as a means of fighting wildfires in the American West. In addition to being educational, it is also an exciting read. The author has done a great service to his country by recording this part of its history before the generation that experienced it passes.

A specialized history about conscientious objectors and firefighting

This book will be of use to those interested in the history of conscientious objectors in the U.S., and those interested in the history of fire fighting in the forests of the western U.S. It is written by a journalist, not a historian, and tells an interesting story that should have some new information even for those already familiar with one of the two topics. I bought it because my first cousin was a smoke jumper, and I found his name in the index and some quotes and information about him that was new to me.