Shant Kenderian

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shant Kenderian

Born 1963
Iraq
Occupation Engineer
Nationality United States
Genres war nonfiction
Notable work(s) 1001 Nights in Iraq

Shant Kenderian is notable as an Iraqi-born United States citizen who became an American prisoner-of-war after being forced to fight against the United States in the Persian Gulf War.

He wrote a book [1] about his adventures, and is currently an engineer in Pasadena.

Contents

[edit] Wars in Iraq

Shant Kenderian was an Iraqi-born United States permanent resident of Armenian Christan background attending Wheeling High School in Chicago.[2][3] He visited his father in Iraq in 1980, and 7 days later the Iran-Iraq War started, blocking him from leaving the country. After graduating college in 1985, he was forced into the Iraqi Navy and fought in the Iran-Iraq war.[4]

Before he could get his green card processed to leave Iraq, the Persian Gulf War started and he was forced to fight against the Americans.[5] Captured by the Americans, he was a prisoner of war until he could convince the Americans of his story. At first the Americans didn't believe his story and thought him a Saddamite spy.[1] While being held in POW camp, he became romantically involved with "Monica", one of the guards.[1] Eventually he was allowed to return to the United States where he reunited with his mother in Glendale.[6]

[edit] Book

After returning to the United States, Shant Kenderian wrote about his adventures in Iraq. After he did a reading of his book on the radio show This American Life[7], his book was picked up by a publisher.

[edit] Current Life

Shant Kenderian became an American citizen in 2000 and he received a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2002.[1] He contributed to the Space Shuttle Columbia Investigation Team and received the American Society for Nondestructive Testing Research Award for Innovation in 2005 [8]. He currently works for The Aerospace Corporation where he researches nondestructive testing.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Kenderian, Shant (2007). 1001 Nights in Iraq: The Shocking Story of an American Forced to Fight for Saddam Against the Country He Loves. Atria. ISBN 978-1416540199. 
  2. ^ 1991 a Year to Remember, Daily Herald (Chicago), Dec 26, 1991
  3. ^ "Reunion Sweet for U.S. Soldier, Iraqi POW", The Daily Herald (Chicago), July 4, 1991
  4. ^ Sunday Book Review, New York Times, September 16, 2007
  5. ^ Book Review, by Brian Palmer, Entertainment Weekly, June 15, 2007
  6. ^ Iraqi POW Comes Home to America Reunion, Kathleen Hendrix; Los Angeles Times, May 8, 1991
  7. ^ Episode 308, This American Life
  8. ^ Awards and Honors, Materials Evaluation, September 2006


 This article about a Middle Eastern writer or poet is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


 This Armenian biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


United States  This article about an American essayist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


Lightbulb  This article about a United States engineer, inventor or industrial designer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.