Richard Severo, Lewis Milford

Richard Severo and Lewis Milford collaborated as investigative journalists to examine American veterans' treatment throughout history. Severo worked as a reporter for The New York Times, while Milford brought expertise in veterans' affairs and policy analysis. Their partnership produced "Wages of War: When America's Soldiers Came Home," which documents how the United States has treated its military veterans from the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam era. The book traces patterns of government promises made to soldiers during wartime and the subsequent failure to fulfill those commitments during peacetime. The authors drew on extensive archival research and interviews to chronicle veterans' struggles with medical care, disability benefits, and social reintegration. Their work reveals recurring cycles where veterans face neglect and broken promises despite their service to the country. The book emerged during the 1980s as Vietnam veterans continued to fight for recognition and benefits, providing historical context for contemporary veterans' issues.

Readers praise "Wages of War" for its thorough documentation of veterans' treatment across American history. Many veterans and military families found the book validated their personal experiences with bureaucratic indifference and broken government promises. Readers appreciate the authors' use of primary sources and personal testimonies that bring individual stories to light. The comprehensive scope impressed readers who noted the book's coverage spanning from Revolutionary War veterans to Vietnam-era soldiers. Many found the historical parallels revealing, particularly the repeated patterns of wartime promises followed by peacetime neglect. Some readers criticized the book's length and density, finding certain sections repetitive or overly detailed. A few noted that the chronological structure sometimes made it difficult to track thematic developments across different eras. Others wished for more analysis of potential solutions rather than focusing primarily on documenting problems. Veterans' advocates frequently recommend the book as documentation of systemic issues, though some general readers found the subject matter depressing and the writing style dry.