Interview with Gerardo Samuel Priori, September 17, 2023

Interview Summary

Gerardo Samuel Priori served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Libya from 1968 to 1969 in the Education Program. He joined Peace Corps after graduating from Duquesne University. His group was the last group to serve in Libya. Training was conducted in Bisbee Arizona, where Libyan instructors taught intensive Arabic language classes. He was initially assigned to a community in the north, but after two months was reassigned to the southern Libyan village of Murzuk, near Sabhā. Gerardo taught English at a girls’ primary school, and at an all-male teachers’ college. In November 1969 the Peace Corps program was terminated due to a military coup d'état. He spent a few weeks traveling in Europe and Africa before returning to the U.S.. Gerardo later became a nurse, and did a tour of duty in the U.S. Army. He continues to volunteer with Red Cross, and has gone on medical missions to several countries. He is a member of the Heart of Texas Peace Corps Association, and Peace Corps Friends of Haiti.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Libya (country of service) 1968-1969 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Duquesne University Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970 Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteer (EPCV), military coup Bisbee Arizona (training) Arabic (language) Murzuk (assignment) U.S. Army nursing career Heart of Texas RPCV Association Friends of Haiti Red Cross volunteer

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.