2010.12.18: December 18, 2010: Brazil RPCV Susan Luz writes "The Nightingale of Mosul"

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Brazil: Peace Corps Brazil: Peace Corps Brazil: Newest Stories: 2010.12.18: December 18, 2010: Brazil RPCV Susan Luz writes "The Nightingale of Mosul"

By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Sunday, January 09, 2011 - 10:39 am: Edit Post

Brazil RPCV Susan Luz writes "The Nightingale of Mosul"

Brazil RPCV Susan Luz writes The Nightingale of Mosul

Colonel Susan Luz, who was the highest-ranking female soldier in the Army Reserve's 399th Combat Support Hospital when she was called to active duty and was awarded the Bronze Star in 2007, followed in the footsteps of a storied family history of military service. Her father fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, and her husband George's father, George Luz senior, was a Fall River native whose experiences in World War II were featured in the book and HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers." It didn't take very long for Luz to experience the danger of being a nurse serving "behind the front line" in war zone firsthand. On her forth day at the hospital in Mosul, a nurse who was scheduled to leave within a couple days of Luz's unit taking over was hit by mortar fire and seriously injured. It was the first MASCAL (code for mass casualty) of 14 MASCALS that her unit would handle during their year in the Middle East. In all, they treated more than 30,000 wounded soldiers and endured 300 mortar attacks in Mosul and Al Asad, where they relocated to open a Level I hospital when the United States Military ramped up forces in 2007. As a public health nurse with certification as a psychiatric nurse, Luz's mission in Iraq included helping soldiers with emotional trauma, and providing comfort to dying soldiers. Luz formed her own "Band of Sisters," a group of nurses who were not only dedicated to treating wounded soldiers, but also maintaining morale among the troops, especially during the unit's time in the middle of the desert in Al Asad.

Brazil RPCV Susan Luz writes "The Nightingale of Mosul"

WOMAN OF WAR: For Susan Luz, being a nurse has meant a life during wartime

By Linda Murphy
Special to The Herald News

Posted Dec 18, 2010 @ 03:09 PM

TIVERTON -

The guiding force that drove Susan (Corry) Luz through the University of Rhode Island's rigorous five-year nursing program was her desire to become an Army nurse in Vietnam. Inspired by her father, a decorated World War II combat veteran, Luz avoided the college party scene, and the anti-war sentiment on campus, and focused intently on her plan to serve in the war.

But her father, Patrick Corry, who saw a military nurse killed in World War II, and silently lived with the resonating images of the horrors of war, wouldn't hear of his young daughter joining up. Instead, she joined the Peace Corps, but her chance to serve came decades later: At age 56, Army Reservist Luz left behind her husband and family in Rhode Island to serve as a nurse in war-ravaged Mosul, Iraq.

Colonel Susan Luz, who was the highest-ranking female soldier in the Army Reserve's 399th Combat Support Hospital when she was called to active duty, will be discussing her experiences and signing copies of her book, "The Nightingale of Mosul, a Nurse's Journey of Service, Struggle and War," at an upcoming event sponsored by the Friends of Tiverton Library.

Luz, who was awarded the Bronze Star in 2007, followed in the footsteps of a storied family history of military service. Her father fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, and her husband George's father, George Luz senior, was a Fall River native whose experiences in World War II were featured in the book and HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers."

It didn't take very long for Luz to experience the danger of being a nurse serving "behind the front line" in war zone firsthand. On her forth day at the hospital in Mosul, a nurse who was scheduled to leave within a couple days of Luz's unit taking over was hit by mortar fire and seriously injured.
It was the first MASCAL (code for mass casualty) of 14 MASCALS that her unit would handle during their year in the Middle East. In all, they treated more than 30,000 wounded soldiers and endured 300 mortar attacks in Mosul and Al Asad, where they relocated to open a Level I hospital when the United States Military ramped up forces in 2007.

As a public health nurse with certification as a psychiatric nurse, Luz's mission in Iraq included helping soldiers with emotional trauma, and providing comfort to dying soldiers. Luz formed her own "Band of Sisters," a group of nurses who were not only dedicated to treating wounded soldiers, but also maintaining morale among the troops, especially during the unit's time in the middle of the desert in Al Asad.
Though her desire to serve the medical needs of combat soldiers came much later than she anticipated, Luz has devoted her life to serving others as she states in the book: "Serving others has been my life priority, and the blessing has been mine. The more you give, the more you get. That's the purpose I've found in life. That's the nightingale's song I always wanted to sing."

When book collaborator, Marcus Brotherton approached her about telling her wartime experiences she said at first she turned him down because she felt her military service was one facet of her life. But she eventually agreed, seeing it as an opportunity to raise awareness of issues that are important to her: women in the military, volunteering to help veterans and cystic fibrosis. Three of her nephews have cystic fibrosis, an incurable disease that affects the lungs.
The book details Luz' lifelong commitment to give of herself to others starting with her time as a nurse in the Peace Corps in Brazil, where she was brutally attacked. Unable to have children of her own after the attack, Luz worked part-time jobs throughout almost her entire career as a public health nurse working at one of Providence's toughest inner city schools and the Institute of Mental Health to give money to her nieces and nephews. "The attack in Brazil made me stronger than ever - it made me more determined than ever to serve people," she said. "It made me realize there are bad people in world, but if it wasn't for the good people of Brazil, I wouldn't have survived."

Luz, who retired from the military in May, still works full-time at Gateway Health Care, an acute residential treatment center in Johnston, R.I., for teens experiencing intense emotional stress. She also volunteers at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Providence and speaks at conferences to raise the awareness of issues related to women in the military. "When people think about the military they usually just think of guys, but women have been serving as nurses since World War I. Our unit was right in the middle of a war zone and constantly getting hit with mortar. Some of my female friends are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder."

Luz, who proudly sports a bumper sticker on her car reading: "We Served Too" said female veterans are also less likely to avail themselves of the services at VA hospitals to deal with issues related to wartime service but she hopes to change that though speaking engagements such as one she gave recently at a conference in Washington, D.C.

She also hopes the book will inspire others to live a positive life and give of themselves to the community and veterans and soldiers. A graduate of St. Mary Bay View Academy, she just kicked off a yearlong service project with the young women at the Catholic school, who will be volunteering their services to women veterans.

"One of the focuses of the book is that I have had a wonderful life - just like Jimmy Stewart in the movie, I never thought I made an impact on people's lives until I got to the end of writing the book. I feel like I have touched people's lives," she said.

Luz will appear at the VFW Hall located at 134 Shove Street 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Jan. 26. Admission is free. If inclement weather occurs, the program will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Copies of her book will be available to purchase and Luz will autograph copies after her presentation. Attendees are encouraged to bring spare paperback books, which the American Library Association will send to soldiers as part of their "Operation Paperback" program.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: December, 2010; Peace Corps Brazil; Directory of Brazil RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Brazil RPCVs; Nursing; Military; Iraq; Writing - Brazil





When this story was posted in January 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers RSS Feed

 Site Index Search PCOL with Google Contact PCOL Recent Posts Bulletin Board Open Discussion RPCV Directory Register

Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal Date: November 9 2010 No: 1460 Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal
The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to "bringing the world back home." Senator Dodd addressed this issue in the "Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill passed by the US Senate and Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter proposed a "Peace Corps Foundation" at no cost to the US government. Both are good approaches but the recent "Comprehensive Assessment Report" didn't address the issue of independent funding for the third goal at all.

Nov 8, 2010: The 50th Begins Date: November 9 2010 No: 1457 Nov 8, 2010: The 50th Begins
University of Michigan commemorates 50th 16 Oct
Wittenberg University also has claim on 50th 31 Oct
Historical Marker Unveiled to Celebrate 50th 15 Oct
Directors Discuss Impact of Service 13 Oct
Mary Morgan writes: Some thoughts on the 50th 16 Oct
Colombia I Holds Reunion at Rutgers 31 Oct
Remembering the Early Program in Ghana 23 Oct
George Packer writes: Meaning of the Mid-Terms 2 Nov
Steve Driehaus Defeated for re-election 2 Nov
Michelle Obama's Uncle was PCV in India 1 Nov
Chic Dambach writes "Exhaust the Limits" 31 Oct
Alrick Brown Directs Documentary on Rwanda 31 Oct
Rajeev Goyal writes: Obama Does Nothing for Peace Corps 31 Oct
Dr. Paul Frommer Created Language for 'Avatar' 20 Oct
Cy Kukenbaker Directs Movie about Soccer in Malawi 15 Oct
Peace Corps has no Institutional Memory 14 Oct
Kristof and Stacia Nordin demonstrate permaculture in Malawi 9 Oct
Volunteer Stephanie Chance dies in Niger 8 Oct
Peace Corps volunteer Census hits 40-year high 4 Oct
Malaysia PM wants Peace Corps to Return 25 Sep
Volunteer Thomas Maresco Murdered in Lesotho 4 Sep
Johnathan Miller launchs Airborne Lifeline 26 Aug

July 20, 2010: Nita Lowey Pushes Expansion Date: July 24 2010 No: 1447 July 20, 2010: Nita Lowey Pushes Expansion
Nita Lowey pushes $46.15 million PC funding increase 1 Jul
Anne Goddard helps lead ChildFund 12 Jul
PCVs Safe after bombing in Uganda 12 Jul
PCVs Evacuated from Northern Burkina Faso 7 Jul
Ben Masters promotes bamboo bicycles 6 Jul
Danny Dunbar is a fan of Brazil soccer 2 Jul
Christopher Hill leaves Iraq Embassy For Academia 2 Jul
NPCA holds YouTube contest 2 Jul
Larry Palmer nominated as Ambassador to Venezuela 30 Jun
Laurence Leamer writes: America Looks Like a Fortress 29 Jun
Ed Reed writes: Troops' service in Korea not in vain 28 Jun
Mary-Denise Tabar finishes tour in Iraq 24 Jun
Carrie Hessler-Radelet Sworn in as PC Deputy Director 24 Jun
PC Releases Comprehensive Agency Assessment Report 22 Jun
Michael Burden writes: The dilemma on your dinner plate 18 Jun
Safety at risk for Peace Corps volunteers? 17 Jun
PCVs in Southern Kyrgyzstan evacuated safely 15 Jun
Steve Harpt helps dropouts reconstruct their lives 11 Jun
Biden Meets with Peace Corps/Kenya Volunteers 11 Jun
19 Americans Sworn-in as PCVs in Indonesia 4 Jun
PC Celebrates Volunteers Return to Sierra Leone 3 Jun
John Coté makes cross-country walk for US Troops 16 May

Memo to Incoming Director Williams Date: August 24 2009 No: 1419 Memo to Incoming Director Williams
PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams

Join Us Mr. President! Date: June 26 2009 No: 1380 Join Us Mr. President!
"We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .



Read the stories and leave your comments.








Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Wicked Local

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Brazil; Nursing; Military; Iraq; Writing - Brazil

PCOL46452
66


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: