Susan (Corry) Luz (Brazil 1972-75) Writes Memoir of Brazil and Iraq
I would attest to her courage. She maybe got that from listening to her father talk about his four years…
Colonel Susan Luz, the highest-ranking female member of her Massachusetts Army Reserve unit, was 56 when she received the letter deploying her unit to Iraq. She packed her bags, kissed her husband goodbye, and set off on a journey that would test her leadership as an officer, her compassion as a nurse, and her resolve as a witness to the brutalities of modern warfare. Her 15 months on the ground during the surge in Iraq in 2006 and 2007 form the keystone of a 
book of life of service.
A life of service began in Brazil as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1972-75 working in Quixada in the interior of the country. While a PCV she was attacked and raped by a gang of teenagers, all three of whom were caught and jailed and sentenced to life in prison.
It took her best friend, who joined the Peace Corps with her, a week to reach Quixada to be with her after the attack. Susan writes in her memoir, “Some of the big guns from the Peace Corps flew down from Washington, D.C. The incident hit the newspaper in the States. Later, because of what had happened to me, the Peace Corps changed their policy: no female Volunteer could ever be stationed alone again. I felt a small shred of satisfaction in that, though I’m not positive even that would have helped. I wasn’t alone when I was attacked. It was broad daylight. I was walking in a well-traversed area.”
After the Peace Corps she worked in inner-city schools, jails, and adolescent psychiatric wards, and joined the Army Reserve. In 2007 she was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service while in Iraq.
Her book is entitled, The Nightingale of Mosul: A Nurse’s Journey of Service, Struggle, and War and was published in May of this year. We’ll be reviewing it soon on this site.
What an incredibly strong and bravewoman. I cannot imagine surviving emotionally such an attack, but she not only survived but went on to serve in so many important and courageous ways. I can’t wait to get the book.
One comment: Peace Corps does not routinely, now, assign women in a group or partner arrangment. It would be good to review the discussion on peacecorpsonline.org, in which female RPCVs discussed the issue.
Key “Safety and Security” into the website search box. Should female PCVs be assigned alone or not, I think, is still an ongoing issue.
I would attest to her courage. She maybe got that from listening to her father talk about his four years of challenge.