Frederick Downs Jr.'s Memoir of His Experiences in the Vietnam War: The Killing Zone

David Jones: Father wounded USMC Sept-Nov 1965. Before they realized the Vietnamese owned the night and villages.
I often wonder, would the world be different had we just stayed out of this war aka confict.
Cannot see anything that really added to world or USA affairs. I thought we learned something but
sadly Afganistan answered that question..... Unless we can provide a 7/11, Round Table Pizza joint or a
gas station. We just do not really understand many cultures and their thinking.
Gripping book and amazing how many firefights/similar author got into, during is 8 months in Vietnam.
Worth the read..........

United States on Dec 18, 2023

Amazon Customer: Highly recommended. Best Vietnam memoir I've read to date

Canada on Jul 10, 2019

mark eyre: Fantastic read if you’re into the war

United Kingdom on Jun 17, 2019

JasonE: I have been reading a few books on the Vietnam war lately and this is one of my favourites so far. Downs really does a good job showing the reader how hard and frustrating life was for American soldiers during the war. I highly recommend it.

Canada on Apr 15, 2018

Amazon Customer: Meiner Ansicht nach eines der besten Bücher eines Vietnam-Veteranen. Downs beschreibt sehr anschaulich seine Dienstzeit in Vietnam und seine Gedanken sowie das Umfeld.

Germany on Feb 12, 2015

Sterling D. Huskins: This book certainly points out the fultility and indeed frustrations of fighting a war like that which took place in Vietnam. To fight the the enemy and the enviornment at the same time was horrendous. The author succeeds in relaying how he changed over time and also how the best in soldiers will come to the surface during times of extreme danger, terrible wounds and the ultimate sacrifice of dying for a cause. A good read for those who want to compare how the fighting in WW1, WW2, and Vietnam differed. Also it is commendable how the author went on after the war to deal with the anti-war sentiments of some people, and to help other wounded warriors.

Canada on Oct 28, 2013

B. Eibisch: I read this book on Kindle and for a pleasant change the Kindle edition did not have many typos.

Frederick wrote the book in order to give people an impression of what it felt like to serve in the Vietnam War. He says he wrote the book because some-one scoffed off at his being physically maimed in the Vietnam War. The negativity that ran through our society both during and after that war was intense. Frederick had been badly wounded and maimed in the Vietnam War and then went to university to complete some studies. It was some gutless little academic twit, that had no idea of the difference between a government ideological policy setting for war and a tragic personal human situation that had a go at him; a worm with no compassion.

Frederick's writing is somewhat bland and there is a requirement to use your imagination when reading this book. The account is some-thing like an outline of events that happened to him in his time in Vietnam. Nonetheless, for those of us who have served in the army at about that time the account is quite gripping. This is not a pleasant Sunday in the Park story and if you're thinking that you might like to read something like that then...

United States on Nov 14, 2011

Bob Hoskins: Frederick Downs was a an infantry officer in Vietnam from late 1967 through early 1968 when he was severely wounded and ultimately lifted out the war.

His story, written in 1978 is honest, gritty and full of inner thoughts. From the writing style, he comes across as smart, determined and a good soldier. There is no gung-ho, let me at em type of rhetoric but more of there's a job to do, let's do it and not be stupid. His concerns for the men in his command grow over his time in country and as more of his men are killed, wounded or rotated out of Vietnam he takes the pain more and more personally. It wears away at his inner soul.

He's honest to a fault insomuch as he refers to all Vietnamese as "dinks" whether friend or foe. He castigates the ARVN soldiers as useless, afraid to fight and more than willing to let the Americans die in their place. He highlights many problems about the whole Vietnam episode but, even at his lowest point, there's a job to do and men to protect. More than likely, the welfare and protection of his men is what kept him sane and on task.

I've read many, many Vietnam memoirs. All the writings are guttural and honest but, somehow, Downs'...

United States on Apr 13, 2011