The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War

The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War is easily one of the best Vietnam war books. Based on the true story of Frederick Downs’ deployment to Vietnam in 1967-1968, the book reads like a diary and articulates his experiences in detail. It provides amazing insight into what was going on in his mind (and around him) as he learns to adapt to the chaos of combat while keeping his men alive. Right from the book’s preface I was pulled in to the story when he described his post-deployment encounter with a man at the University of Denver in which the man sees his amputation above his left elbow and says, “Serves you right.” Wow. It’s easy to question another person’s morality when yours has never been truly tested. One of the most powerful passages for me was also the following: “Man’s beginning and man’s end would always be attended by only a few. Those that bore him at birth and those that bore him at death. The only important thing was what he did in between.” I read the updated reprint of the book and found the Afterword provided an insightful look into the after effects of his deployment, from his career with the VA to his closure revisiting Vietnam 20 years later. He also provided pieces of after action reports that described the fate of his fellow soldiers after his war-ending encounter with a “Bouncing Betty”. I highly recommend this book for a true glimpse into the soldier’s perspective of the Vietnam war.

Fred Downs does an excellent job at depicting the day-to-day life of infantry soldiers in the Vietnam War. Told through the eyes of a Platoon Leader/Second Lieutenant, we see the war from a different perspective. Using a journal approach, the author leads his platoon - alternating between their tedious duty of protecting bridges to the difficult humps through the jungle on search and destroy missions. The battles are descriptive and you are saddened when one of the well-developed characters is killed or wounded. Although the book only covers six months of the author's tour, he touched upon just about everything that a young infantry soldier would encounter: mines, booby traps, ambushes, fragging, heat, monsoon rains, air assaults, burning down hootches, tunnel complexes, digging up graves, etc.The story is fast moving and easy to read. As a Vietnam Infantry vet, I have read many memoirs and stories about the war, and find myself always comparing my experiences with those described in the book I'm reading. There are three and a half million different stories that can be told about the war; each is unique in its own way. By reading Killing Zone, Mr. Downs brings the reader right into the fold - up close and personal - to learn and experience his war firsthand.Killing Zone deserves a five star rating and is highly recommended!John Podlaski, authorCherries - A Vietnam War Novel

First published in 1984 and updated in 2007, Frederick Downs, Jr.'s personal account as an infantryman in Vietnam during the war is one of the best books ever written about those who saw ground combat in Vietnam. It's a jarring story of a soldier's life in the field as told through Downs' chronicle of his time near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in 1967-68. That his novel is a must-read for West Point cadets is a testament to its accurate portrayal of military combat conditions.My father served in Vietnam in the same area and time period as Downs. His book taught me a lot about what life in the killing zone was like for my father, who rarely spoke of the war before he passed away. The author writes with such vivid detail and intensity that he drags the reader into his story. At times, I thought I was in the field with him -- even though I will never know what men like Downs went through during the war. His book is a tribute to the Vietnam veterans who rightly deserve recognition for their sacrifices. I also appreciated Downs' efforts to promote reconciliation with the Vietnamese people.I gave this book 4 stars because it's not for everyone. Downs tells it like it was. His graphic depictions of the reality of the Vietnam War and derogatory language might leave some readers offended. It should be understood, however, that his narrative portrays the realities of that time period and was not gratuitous. Written as a daily journal, the book does not follow the traditional structure of a novel. The primary conflict in the story -- war -- does not lend itself to a concise climax or ending.I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a first-hand account of the Vietnam War or about the life of a soldier in combat. In an age when soldiers are still deployed to far-away battlefields in hostile conditions and face grave danger each and every day, this 45-year-old story is just as relevant today as it was when it happened.

One of the best non-fiction I have ever read on the Vietnam war. As a helicopter pilot in 1971-1972, I had the honor of serving these guys who had nowhere to hide. What Mr. Downs has done with his career at the VA is fantastic. So many wounded veterans have g as their lives given back to them because of his dedication. Thank you so much.

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.

Fantastic read if you’re into the war

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

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

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.