"This book tells the story of one important group of World War II conscientious objectors: the men who volunteered for Civilian Public Service as U.S. Forest Service smoke jumpers. Delving into the reasons, mainly religious, why these men chose not to engage in military conflict, Matthews proves that they were anything but cowards; instead, as they risked their lives by parachuting into America's western wildernesses to fight fires, they demonstrated true patriotism and courage."--Jacket.