Matthews makes good use of eyewitness accounts and narratives to describe the experiences of these conscientious objectors who volunteered for Civilian Public Service as U.S. Forest Service smoke jumpers. He discusses their reasons (mostly spiritual) for choosing not to go to war, and the many challenges they faced at home, including encountering draft boards and the locals, making peace with themselves and their decisions, training to become smokejumpers, living through boot camp, learning the ropes (literally), and keeping the west from burning to the ground when all the other able-bodied men were overseas. Includes period photos. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)