The time was World War II. The U.S. government had not devised a way to deal with the thousands who, for reasons of conscience, would refuse to fight. Eager to avoid a repeat of the harsh treatment their young men had experienced during World War I, the Historic Peace Churches (Quakers, Mennonites, Amish, and Brethren) fashioned a program acceptable to their peace convictions--and the highly militarized U.S. government. It is an earthy story, full of personal struggle, government red tape, humor, and loss--an unusual experiment in church-state relations.