Right away, the book has a strong opening as it begins with a scene of a young man trying to relax after a stressful trip from the United States to Vietnam. This book is a personal memoir by author Kenneth A. Luikart, of a boy growing to manhood in one short year. He paints descriptive scenes that are crucial to the success of his story. His verbal description of sensory details, smells, sounds, and feelings add realism to the story and give the reader a sense of being with him in his journey. "Down From The Mountains The Uncomfortable Zone" affords the reader a chance to step into the Vietnam war and look at the situation our troops were placed in by political leaders from all parties involved. Every page provides a glimpse of turmoil and uncertainty young men faced upon graduation from High School in the late 1960's. It follows the path of a young adult form the hills of West Virginia to the unabridged realities of Vietnam. From the harsh realities of basic training, to the joy and happiness Vietnamese children brought the unit at Christmas, this story provides a young man's recollections of war. This book is filled with humor, and tragedy, concerning war waged to stop Communist aggression.