Homeward Bound: American Veterans Return from War (Praeger Security International) [Hardcover]

Richard H. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0275983854 | ISBN-13: 978-0275983857

The story of veterans coming home from wars has not been concisely recorded to highlight the major problems they've faced. Having gone to war and survived, they have expectations, hopes, and dreams of a better life. In Homeward Bound, Taylor chronicles their struggles to realize all of those expectations by tracing the experiences of American veterans from the Revolutionary War through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In doing so, he connects pieces of a longer, larger story that has traditionally been told only in individual parts. Homeward Bound delves into personal memoirs, dusty diaries, and teary interviews to link veterans' hopes for the future with the ways in which their dreams were fulfilled—or died. It shows how war changed these men and women, how they lived with their experiences despite the odds, and how alone they can be. Accompanying photographs relate still other stories—those written on our veterans' gallant faces.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"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, who describes similar situations throughout American history from the Revolutionary War to the present. With treatment of veteran experiences of the aftermaths of the Revolutionary War, the Mexican-American War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, foreign wars of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, World War I the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the first Gulf War included, 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."

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Reference & Research Book News

"Taylor records the problems American veterans have faced when they returned home from various wars….Homeward Bound relates many of the shared experiences and hopes of those who served their country and describes the difficulties they encountered moving from battleground to the home front….Veterans, those who share in their lives and readers who enjoy history will appreciate the insights of Homeward Bound."

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ARMY Magazine

"With more than three hundred footnotes, the Taylors' work is extensively researched. Each chapter is organized by an in-depth historical account of a conflict and immediately followed by accounts of the veterans' homecomings. In addition to the enormous amount of facts, the authors provide a wonderful anthology of personal stories from veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the current Global War on Terrorism. By weaving these personal stories throughout the book, Taylor skillfully connects the pieces of history together….[T]his book should be of major importance to legislators and policymakers who have a say in revamping and reestablishing veteran's benefits. More importantly, this book is educational to all citizens so they become more aware of the unbelievable sacrifices our servicemen and women have made and continue to make."

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On Point

Book Description

By blending the historical experiences with the psychological and social obstacles faced by American veterans from the Revolutionary War through the conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq, Taylor chronicles their struggles as they try to realize their dreams when they return home from distant battlefields.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Praeger (February 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275983854
• ISBN-13: 978-0275983857
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,636,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Taylor was a soldier for all his adult life, serving in Vietnam, Europe, Grenada, The Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan, and numerous posts in the United States. His service led to an understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their loved ones.

He documented his experiences over two tours of duty in Vietnam in Prodigals: A Vietnam Story, published by Casemate in 2003. The manuscript was an award winner at the Pike's Peak Writers Conference the previous year, earned a nomination as a Georgia Writer of the Year, and the book was a featured selection by the Military Book Club.

His history of veterans is documented in Homeward Bound: American Veterans Return from War, published by Praeger Security International in 2007, republished by the Naval Institute Press in 2009 as a featured selection for the Association of the United States Army.
Taylor is retired from active service but is still involved with veterans' organizations.

Other books include The Raptor and the Mourning Dove.
Berlin Connection and Eden Lost are in production and will appear soon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars eye opening, heart rending, soul stirring, October 31, 2007

By 

Susan Larson (Lilburn, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homeward Bound: American Veterans Return from War (Praeger Security International) (Hardcover)

Drawing from extensive research, Taylor gives the reader firsthand accounts of soldiers returning from war and adjusting to the changes in themselves, their loved ones and society itself while they were away.
Taylor also chronocles the way the government has treated veterans over the years regarding medical treatment, education and other benefits. It would be most beneficial for every legislator read this book. Even more, if every citizen read this book to become aware of what sacrifices our military has made and continues to make as they resettle back in the counrty for which they so valiantly fought.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars new look at the history of American warfare, October 13, 2009

By 

Charles A. Krohn (Panama City Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Homeward Bound: American Veterans Return from War (Paperback)

This is a book about how veterans have been received after the guns grow silent. What makes this come alive are the dozens (hundreds?) of anecdotal stories, seemingly selected for there interest and relevancy. I read on a commuter train, and it made the trip tireless for about a week. Taylor really does an outstanding job capturing both sides of the veterans' issues: deserving reward vs charity for the pitiful. The book flows easily, but it's obvious the amount of research was staggering.