The Nightingale of Mosul: A Nurse's Journey of Service, Struggle, and War

by Susan Luz, Marcus Brotherton

The true story of a female soldier in Iraq who was awarded the Bronze Star—not for fighting, but for fighting to care. She is today's Florence Nightingale. At age 56, Susan Luz was deployed to Iraq. By the time she returned home, she had helped save the lives of 30,000 wounded soldiers, contractors, Iraqi civilians, and detainees. But this was not the first time Luz responded to the call of this is the inspirational story of a life dedicated to service and to the ideal of fighting for what truly matters. As a young woman, Luz served in the Peace Corps in Brazil, where she experienced the brutality of poverty and violence. As a public health nurse, she has worked in jails, psychiatric wards, and a violent inner city high school. But nothing prepared her for what she would see in Iraq. Working under constant fire, Luz routinely witnessed the most horrific effects of the war. Her dedication to her job earned her the Bronze Star in honor of her selflessness and the life-saving work she carried out under unfathomably difficult circumstances. Susan Luz is a true hero and her story will resonate in the hearts and minds of readers for generations to come.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 27, 2010

Reviews

[Maureen Sepulveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir by an Army nurse who served in the Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The story gives personal background about how she became a nurse, served in Peace Corps and also worked as a school nurse in inner city school and eventually joined the Army Reserve. Really interesting career she’s had and enjoyed reading her stories from her varied career path.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read books about this war that were better written, more gut wrenching, more immediate. I have not read any other books which related to me the experience I might have, if I were to go to war. The other books have shown me what it would be like to be a young soldier. I was especially , horrifically delighted by the detail about mercury thermometers being useless at their base because they only register up to 120 F.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish this book. I very much wanted to know the story of a nurse serving in Iraq, but 2/3 of the book is back story. Not much depth was given to supporting characters and the story seemed flat, even drawn out. The part where she is serving in Iraq is good, but as I said before, there was not enough of it.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true story of a dedicated and courageous woman who found many ways to serve her country, her community, and the world. The world is fortunate there are people like this in it. Her father, a Viet Nam Vet, discouraged her from entering the military upon her college graduation as she intended. Honoring her father's wishes, she joined the Peace Core instead.
If you're familiar with my reviews, you know I dislike what I call HS Book Report style Reviews. If that's what a prospecting reader is looking for, I recommend they look for the Author's summary. They can do a better job of that than any Book Reviewer could. And, they won't reveal story details in an order the author doesn't intend to.
The pace of this book is just right. It captured and held my attention without any exhausting "car-chase" like activities.
In the portions of the book, she talks about her military deployment to the War Zone in Iraq. Yes, she did eventually join the Army and rose to become a full Colonel. There were many MASH Hospital type events and she was right in the midst of the OR Drama with, perhaps, the most demanding role...she was the last person to comfort many heroes as they passed.
There is great sadness as well as great joy in Susan Luz's life but, the saddest is that she was denied the ability to have children as a consequence of a brutal gang-rape while serving in the Peace Core in Brazil. Her incredible courage inspired her to return to complete her assignment in the very same village.

Review by THE HOLEY ONE

[Mona El-gharbawy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not as expected, not at all a war story about serving in Iraq it flashback story of a hard working nurse.
She may be honored for all her dedication to the US army, but certainly there is no heroic action in serving in US army who invaded Iraq and pretend that they are heros - Really how can you believe such nonsense and have the guts to pretend that you have nothing to do with destroying Iraq and blaming Iraqi people - strange that some people can believe their own lies.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read.. This should be a must read for all nurses and nursing students. No fluff here and well written. The author is a dedicated courageous nurse who was also a Colonel in the Army Reserves.She served in Iraq but her story as to how she got there is amazing and inspiring. Truly a dedicated professional...she is a nurse's nurse..Highly recommend this book

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I work in an ER and I love it. If I wasn't married, this book would have inspired me to be an Army Nurse. The travel and the experiences shared are so exciting and patriotic. Her testimony truly explains the feeling of the calling that many nurses I know experience.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a war story with lots of blood. But it is well-told story about a hard-working nurse doing her best.

[Irving Zangwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nurse's Journey of Service, Struggle and War. Terrific book beyond words. READ IT!!!

[Rorie Boudreau]

RI woman - interesting from that perspective...would not highly recommend

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn't put it down. Its hard to believe how many incredible experiences can be crammed into one lifetime.