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The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War (Paperback)

by Frederick Downs Jr. (Author) "At 2330 hours the Continental "Big Bird with the Golden Tail" DC-8 dropped through the night sky into the landing pattern over the black landscape..." (more)
Key Phrases: dung lui, two dinks, one dink, Captain Sells, Dragon Six, Voodoo One (more...)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
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The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War + Blood Trails: The Combat Diary of a Foot Soldier in Vietnam + Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam
Price For All Three: $26.34

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
"The best damned book from the point of view of the infantrymen who fought there."—Army Times

In 1967 Frederick Downs arrived in Vietnam as a green but determined twenty-three-year-old infantry lieutenant. In the months of brutal combat to follow, Downs was to face the most lethal and loathsome dangers, all the while following orders, keeping his men as safe as he could, and searching for the conviction and then the hope that the war was worth the sacrifice. He would leave with a shattered body, but a spirit still intact. The Killing Zone is his story, and it stands tall with the best books ever written about men in combat.

About the Author
Frederick Downs received four Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star with Valor, and the Silver Star for his service in the Vietnam War. He is also the author of Aftermath and No Longer Enemies, Not Yet Friends. He is currently the Director of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids for the Veterans Administration.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co. (February 17, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0393310892
  • ISBN-13: 978-0393310894
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #174,566 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
At 2330 hours the Continental "Big Bird with the Golden Tail" DC-8 dropped through the night sky into the landing pattern over the black landscape of Vietnam. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dung lui, two dinks, one dink, resupply chopper, point squad, night location, web gear, track crew, fatigue shirt, jungle fatigues, battalion surgeon, track men
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Captain Sells, Dragon Six, Voodoo One, Duc Pho, Delta Company, Lieutenant Knutson, Alpha Three-six, Central Highlands, Delta One-six, First Platoon, Jesus Christ, Lieutenant Smart, South China Sea, Chu Lai, Fourth Division, Fourth Platoon, San Francisco, Lieutenant Ordway, Purple Heart, Alpha Company, Charlie Company, Charlie Six, Thunder Mountain
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6 books cite this book:
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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews
5 star:
 (21)
4 star:
 (5)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
152 of 163 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Been there, done that, December 20, 2000
By Michael Medley (Salt Lake City) - See all my reviews
Although a combat veteran of Vietnam, I had (or thought I had) put the war behind me for the first dozen years back. Then I ran across Fred's book, saw that it dealt with D 1/14th and bought it. And read it. And read it again.

I humped with Delta on a few occasions in 1969-70 as a fill-in enlisted FO (Recon Sgt) and remember the stories from some of the short-timers about the mythical period of a year previous when the company left the roads and entered the jungle. Fred was part of that transition period.

When my wife first started asking me about Vietnam in the late-80's, I gave her "The Killing Zone" as a primer. I told her after she finished she would have a sufficient background to understand my story. The same situation occurred with my son in the early-90's when he was in college. I now pick up copies whenever I find them in the used bookstores to give to civilians who want to hear "war stories", with the proviso that they read the book first.

As I write this I realize that I am not a proper person to provide a review of this book, since it is like trying to judge a prequel to my own experience. So I will only say that it is a totally honest book. If you are a combat veteran, you will recognize it. If you are a civilian or a non-combat troop, you will come away with a greater appreciation of what the war was like at grunt-eye level.

Mike Medley

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48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A harrowing personal account, June 17, 2000
This book belongs on a short list including Phillip Caputo's "A Rumor of War" and Lt. General Harold G. Moore's "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young," as one of the best first person narratives to come out of the Vietnam War. Downs was a fresh faced platoon leader who, like "Born on the Fourth of July"'s Ron Kovic, looked forward to the opportunity to prove his mettle under fire. Like Kovic, Downs came back from the war with a shattered body and a psyche that was deeply affected by what he experienced. Down's account of Vietnam is simple and straightforward. He is also an excellent writer and his book is a compulsive page turner. This is not a book that should be missed by those with an interest in America's most tragic war.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Exiciting reading about a real life hero!, December 6, 1998
By deege@flash.net (Tucson, Az) - See all my reviews
Fred Downs worked for me when he was recovering from his wounds at Fitzsimmons General Hospital outside of Denver, Colorado. The events in the book were described by some of his friends who were there and are very accurately portrayed in the book. Fred's impact on the wounded at the hospital was almost as spectacular as his adventures in Vietnam and he was an inspiration to everyone around him. I still remember him after 35 years and I am willing to bet everyone who knew him feels the same way. Read the book and you will see why Fred is such a special person. (Someone should ask him to write about his experiences in the hospital and his adventures while he was there.)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
The book really puts into perspective what the ground troops endured during the war. It is well written and makes you feel as if you are their with them in the heat of the battle... Read more
Published 5 days ago by B. Marlborough

5.0 out of 5 stars Most authentic view of war from the ground
If Bob Mason's Chickenhawk was the best book about Vietnam from a chopper pilot's seat, then Fred Downs' memoir is one of the best from the grunts' point of view. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Timothy J. Bazzett

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a terrific read !
If you're interested in getting an idea of what a typical army officer's life in an operational area was like ..... read this book. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Harold J. Schmeling

2.0 out of 5 stars For veterans ... not for normal folk
I bought this book because it had a cumulative 4.5 start rating on amazon. I did read this book cover to cover but was disappointed by the writing style. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Razzle

5.0 out of 5 stars Written as Remembered. That's Important
Like most who have written books about their Vietnam experience, I believe Mr. Downs has told his story as he remembered it. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Bobby W. Miller

4.0 out of 5 stars Really interesting book.
This book was really good, it started a little slow, and it climaxed really fast. It was like I started reading it and then all of a sudden it was over. Read more
Published on July 7, 2007 by Joseph M. Hale

5.0 out of 5 stars Action
This is a great action book with ambushes, attacks, etc. The Killing Zone shows what it was like to live and fight in Vietnam. Read more
Published on June 26, 2007 by J. Hurst

5.0 out of 5 stars vietnam
this book is such a waste of time, it tells you only the point of view of one's man ego and his denial of america's defeat by the north vietnamese. Read more
Published on June 12, 2007 by My Tran

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars.
This effort is one of the better accounts of the Vietnam War. It's interesting, well-written, and the accounts are plausible and intelligently reported.
Published on March 12, 2007 by James B. Johnson

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good!
A very good book of one mans experiences. A must read in my opinion.
Published on January 11, 2007 by Timothy L. Barnick

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