The recent media and congressional furor concerning the deplorable conditions facing veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the less trumpeted difficulties many recent veterans are facing in receiving adequate care and readjusting to life back home likely came as no surprise to author Taylor (ret., US Army), who describes similar situations throughout American history from the Revolutionary War to the present. He covers such issues as social readjustment and acceptance, job training and placement, medical care and disability compensation, education, retirement, burial. He also provides coverage of the often-differing experiences of women and minority veterans. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)