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Conscientious Objector: A Journey of Peace, Justice, Culture, and Environment
What would you do if you were drafted to fight in a war?
As a conscientious objector opposed to all wars, Wayne R. Ferren Jr. had to answer that question during the Vietnam War.
He called on his religious and scientific backgrounds as well as his environmental activism to argue that he should be excluded from fighting in, or supporting this war. Following a successful defense of his claim, Wayne served two years of alternative civilian service, which influenced his professional and personal life for the next fifty years.
Decades after his service, he was shocked to find his name on the Vietnam War Memorial, which turned out to be that of another young man with a similar name born the same year Wayne was born. That man died in 1968 when his plane was hit by artillery fire and crash landed at Khe Sanh Marine Combat Base. He will forever remain a teenage father killed in a senseless war.
To this day, the duality haunts the author, and in this multifaceted memoir, he looks back at a lifetime and how his background, scientific training, and transcendentalism have guided him on a path of conscientious objection, service, and conservation, believing all things are sacred.
As a conscientious objector opposed to all wars, Wayne R. Ferren Jr. had to answer that question during the Vietnam War.
He called on his religious and scientific backgrounds as well as his environmental activism to argue that he should be excluded from fighting in, or supporting this war. Following a successful defense of his claim, Wayne served two years of alternative civilian service, which influenced his professional and personal life for the next fifty years.
Decades after his service, he was shocked to find his name on the Vietnam War Memorial, which turned out to be that of another young man with a similar name born the same year Wayne was born. That man died in 1968 when his plane was hit by artillery fire and crash landed at Khe Sanh Marine Combat Base. He will forever remain a teenage father killed in a senseless war.
To this day, the duality haunts the author, and in this multifaceted memoir, he looks back at a lifetime and how his background, scientific training, and transcendentalism have guided him on a path of conscientious objection, service, and conservation, believing all things are sacred.
469 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 2, 2025
Wayne R. Ferren Jr.'s memoir, Conscientious Objector, is a deeply personal and multifaceted exploration of one man's stand against war, interwoven with his journey through a rapidly changing world in the 1960s and 70s. The book chronicles Ferren's life from his formative years in Camden, New Jersey, to his eventual recognition as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. Alongside this personal journey, Ferren reflects on cultural shifts, his passion for environmental conservation, and the broader implications of his ethical beliefs. It’s a memoir that feels both intimately human and profoundly universal.
What struck me most about Ferren's writing was his ability to make history deeply personal. His account of discovering the story of Jerry Wayne Ferren, a young soldier who shared his name and tragically died in Vietnam, was haunting. This discovery becomes a poignant touchstone throughout the book, reminding readers of the fragility and randomness of fate. Ferren's descriptions of his upbringing, complete with vivid details about family dynamics and summers spent exploring the Pine Barrens, transported me to a bygone era. Yet, amid these nostalgic reflections, he doesn’t shy away from grappling with heavier themes like racism, generational trauma, and the personal cost of standing by one’s convictions.
The book’s heart lies in Ferren's struggle to be recognized as a conscientious objector. His arguments before Local Board No. 8 are compelling, blending philosophical reasoning, historical context, and deeply personal convictions. What amazed me was his meticulous preparation and unwavering resolve despite societal pressures. These moments made me reflect on the courage it takes to stand against the grain, especially during such a divisive era. That said, the memoir isn’t just about resistance; it’s a celebration of passion and discovery.
Ferren’s love for paleontology and environmentalism is infectious. Chapters detailing his fossil hunts and his work at the Academy of Natural Sciences are filled with a childlike wonder that contrasts beautifully with the book’s heavier moments. I loved how he connected these scientific endeavors with his broader ethical stance, arguing that understanding nature deepens our obligation to protect it. This connection between science and morality felt both logical and inspiring.
Conscientious Objector, by Wayne R. Ferren Jr., is more than just a memoir—it’s a testament to the power of personal conviction, intellectual curiosity, and compassion in shaping a meaningful life. Ferren’s prose is honest and reflective, with a warmth that draws you in even when he tackles difficult subjects. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in the Vietnam era, environmental ethics, or the philosophical challenges of living a principled life. Whether you’re a history buff, a pacifist, or just someone who appreciates a well-told life story, this book has something valuable to offer.
What struck me most about Ferren's writing was his ability to make history deeply personal. His account of discovering the story of Jerry Wayne Ferren, a young soldier who shared his name and tragically died in Vietnam, was haunting. This discovery becomes a poignant touchstone throughout the book, reminding readers of the fragility and randomness of fate. Ferren's descriptions of his upbringing, complete with vivid details about family dynamics and summers spent exploring the Pine Barrens, transported me to a bygone era. Yet, amid these nostalgic reflections, he doesn’t shy away from grappling with heavier themes like racism, generational trauma, and the personal cost of standing by one’s convictions.
The book’s heart lies in Ferren's struggle to be recognized as a conscientious objector. His arguments before Local Board No. 8 are compelling, blending philosophical reasoning, historical context, and deeply personal convictions. What amazed me was his meticulous preparation and unwavering resolve despite societal pressures. These moments made me reflect on the courage it takes to stand against the grain, especially during such a divisive era. That said, the memoir isn’t just about resistance; it’s a celebration of passion and discovery.
Ferren’s love for paleontology and environmentalism is infectious. Chapters detailing his fossil hunts and his work at the Academy of Natural Sciences are filled with a childlike wonder that contrasts beautifully with the book’s heavier moments. I loved how he connected these scientific endeavors with his broader ethical stance, arguing that understanding nature deepens our obligation to protect it. This connection between science and morality felt both logical and inspiring.
Conscientious Objector, by Wayne R. Ferren Jr., is more than just a memoir—it’s a testament to the power of personal conviction, intellectual curiosity, and compassion in shaping a meaningful life. Ferren’s prose is honest and reflective, with a warmth that draws you in even when he tackles difficult subjects. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in the Vietnam era, environmental ethics, or the philosophical challenges of living a principled life. Whether you’re a history buff, a pacifist, or just someone who appreciates a well-told life story, this book has something valuable to offer.
September 29, 2021
What Wayne Ferren, Jr. has created, with Conscientious Objector, is an incredibly detailed, thoroughly researched, and deeply contemplated perspective on an important period in U.S. history. One can not but marvel at the profound intellect at play here that reveals important connections throughout Wayne’s life that led to his evolution as a human being, while at the same time shows the complex (and not so complex) details that made the Vietnam War what it was. And when all the chapters come together, what we have are the reasons why Wayne became a conscientious objector, and why he sees the world the way he does.
The perspective Wayne provides is revelatory in regard to the history of Vietnam and the likely reasons for the war in the first place. But the power of his perspective lies in all the threads of Wayne’s life that are woven into our history to become a larger tapestry that is Conscientious Objector. With this book, the reader has the opportunity to understand the thinking of an individual that led to impactful decisions that represent a considerable number of like-minded war dissenters, many of whom may have taken similar actions, but some of whom took the other course and died for their choices (or lack there-of).
This book is for multiple types of readers: those who already agree with Wayne’s perspective; those who might not agree and who would do well to look at life in a new way; and young people who have not experienced life and death decisions, those who may have to take a stand for their beliefs in the future.
The perspective Wayne provides is revelatory in regard to the history of Vietnam and the likely reasons for the war in the first place. But the power of his perspective lies in all the threads of Wayne’s life that are woven into our history to become a larger tapestry that is Conscientious Objector. With this book, the reader has the opportunity to understand the thinking of an individual that led to impactful decisions that represent a considerable number of like-minded war dissenters, many of whom may have taken similar actions, but some of whom took the other course and died for their choices (or lack there-of).
This book is for multiple types of readers: those who already agree with Wayne’s perspective; those who might not agree and who would do well to look at life in a new way; and young people who have not experienced life and death decisions, those who may have to take a stand for their beliefs in the future.
October 12, 2021
Conscientious Objector is a remarkable book. Though mostly a memoir by Wayne R. Ferren Jr., it is also a plaintive treatise about the senseless tragedies of war and in particular, the Vietnam War. Drawing from a 1950's childhood like many in the baby boomer generation, with strong, multigenerational family bonds, Mr. Ferren grew to become a deeply talented intellect governed by a strong consciousness that never wavered in its commitment to peace, science, justice, and harmony, shaped by the cultural revolution of the 1960s. His perspectives on war, drug addiction, institutional racism, and marriage are not necessarily new. But as a single elegy, they tell a tale of a life fully lived resonating with a personal code of honor to be admired and emulated. That Ferren was also able to weave a very different coming-of-age trajectory of another brave man with (almost) the same name speaks to his skill as a teller of tales with profound relevance as recent history and a cautionary tale for the future. I recommend this book to all.
August 20, 2021
I enjoyed the book and Wayne's voice is in my ears.
His recounting of his life and work is fascinating
His recounting of his life and work is fascinating
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews