Shant Kenderian

Infobox Writer


imagesize = 150px
name = Shant Kenderian
birthplace = Iraq
nationality = United States
birthdate = 1963
deathdate =
occupation = Engineer
genre = war nonfiction
movement =
notableworks = 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 cite book |title=1001 Nights in Iraq: The Shocking Story of an American Forced to Fight for Saddam Against the Country He Loves |last=Kenderian |first=Shant |authorlink=Shant Kenderian |year=2007 |publisher=Atria |location= |isbn=978-1416540199] about his adventures, and is currently an engineer in Pasadena.

Wars in Iraq

Shant Kenderian was an Iraqi-born United States permanent resident of Armenian Christan background attending Wheeling High School in Chicago.1991 a Year to Remember, Daily Herald (Chicago), Dec 26, 1991] "Reunion Sweet for U.S. Soldier, Iraqi POW", The Daily Herald (Chicago), July 4, 1991] 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. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/books/review/Sussman-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Sunday Book Review] , New York Times, September 16, 2007]

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. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20042680,00.html Book Review] , by Brian Palmer, Entertainment Weekly, June 15, 2007] 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. While being held in POW camp, he became romantically involved with "Monica", one of the guards. Eventually he was allowed to return to the United States where he reunited with his mother in Glendale.Iraqi POW Comes Home to America Reunion, Kathleen Hendrix; Los Angeles Times, May 8, 1991]

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 [ [http://www.thislife.org/pages/archives/archive06.html Episode 308] , This American Life] , his book was picked up by a publisher.

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. He contributed to the Space Shuttle Columbia Investigation Team and received the American Society for Nondestructive Testing Research Award for Innovation in 2005 [http://www.asnt.org/keydocuments/awards/ah0609.htm Awards and Honors] , Materials Evaluation, September 2006] . He currently works for The Aerospace Corporation where he researches nondestructive testing.

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