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FORMER POW SHARES STORY
The UCLA Daily Bruin, CA
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/2007/oct/26/f ormer-pow-shares-story/
Oct 26 2007
American author was drafted into Iraqi navy against his wishes,
then captured by U.S. forces Helen Yim, Bruin contributor (Contact)
Published: Friday, October 26, 2007 Shant Kenderian, an American who
was drafted into Saddam Hussein's navy and captured by American forces,
came to UCLA Thursday to promote his book and discuss his harrowing
experiences on the front lines of Operation Desert Storm.
His book, titled "1001 Nights in Iraq: The Shocking Story of an
American Forced to Fight for Saddam Against the Country He Loves,"
tells the story of his unlikely survival through two wars and
interrogation in an American POW camp.
The lecture, sponsored by the Armenian Graduate Student Association,
was part of a series of events that invites Armenian-American authors
to discuss their books on campus.
Andrew Behesnilian, a medical student and the project manager of the
event, said the goal of the event was to allow students to interact
with published authors in the Armenian community.
Although he was then a permanent resident of the U.S., during a visit
to Iraq in 1980, Kenderian was barred from returning to his mother
and brother in Chicago for 10 years when Saddam Hussein sealed Iraq's
borders and invaded Iran.
Within weeks of receiving his green card and permission to return to
the U.S. at the war's end, Iraq launched an invasion of Kuwait and
Kenderian was drafted back into the navy.
Though he was born in Iraq, Kenderian said did not consider himself
an Iraqi, in part because he has no living relatives in the country.
"I felt like I didn't belong (in Iraq) and that hurt me," he said.
Desperate to return to his family and adopted country, Kenderian
volunteered for an assignment he described as a "triple suicide
mission" on the front lines because he hoped he would be captured as
a prisoner of war by American troops.
He said he did not mind heavy interrogation and solitary confinement
"as long as I was in American custody."
Kenderian said his book presents readers with a unique firsthand
account of war.
"It gives you a feeling about war, a different perspective than the
news or movies," Kenderian said of his book.
He described the hardships of survival such as being forced to fight
without adequate food, shelter or ammunition.
"We had no food, we lived on one bagel-sized piece of bread per day
and drank a lot of water," Kenderian said.
But draftee said he was relieved that he did not have to use a gun
during the war because of his conflicting loyalties.
Key to his survival, Kenderian said, were the lasting friendships he
made with his interrogators and a prison guard.
"It's a very special bond, and it's a very painful bond. I am still
in touch with these people," he said.
Areen Babajanian, a fourth-year economics and international development
studies student said he thinks the story of Kenderian's experiences
is compelling.
"I'm just really interested in the premise of the lecture and the
events he went through," Babajanian said.
Raffi Kassabian, a law student and the executive officer of AGSA, said
he thinks that Kenderian's experiences are particularly compelling
because the author has no political message and shares stories of
human relationships.
"The story sends a universal message that everyone can relate to,
whether it's religious or cultural," Kassabian said.
The UCLA Daily Bruin, CA
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/2007/oct/26/f ormer-pow-shares-story/
Oct 26 2007
American author was drafted into Iraqi navy against his wishes,
then captured by U.S. forces Helen Yim, Bruin contributor (Contact)
Published: Friday, October 26, 2007 Shant Kenderian, an American who
was drafted into Saddam Hussein's navy and captured by American forces,
came to UCLA Thursday to promote his book and discuss his harrowing
experiences on the front lines of Operation Desert Storm.
His book, titled "1001 Nights in Iraq: The Shocking Story of an
American Forced to Fight for Saddam Against the Country He Loves,"
tells the story of his unlikely survival through two wars and
interrogation in an American POW camp.
The lecture, sponsored by the Armenian Graduate Student Association,
was part of a series of events that invites Armenian-American authors
to discuss their books on campus.
Andrew Behesnilian, a medical student and the project manager of the
event, said the goal of the event was to allow students to interact
with published authors in the Armenian community.
Although he was then a permanent resident of the U.S., during a visit
to Iraq in 1980, Kenderian was barred from returning to his mother
and brother in Chicago for 10 years when Saddam Hussein sealed Iraq's
borders and invaded Iran.
Within weeks of receiving his green card and permission to return to
the U.S. at the war's end, Iraq launched an invasion of Kuwait and
Kenderian was drafted back into the navy.
Though he was born in Iraq, Kenderian said did not consider himself
an Iraqi, in part because he has no living relatives in the country.
"I felt like I didn't belong (in Iraq) and that hurt me," he said.
Desperate to return to his family and adopted country, Kenderian
volunteered for an assignment he described as a "triple suicide
mission" on the front lines because he hoped he would be captured as
a prisoner of war by American troops.
He said he did not mind heavy interrogation and solitary confinement
"as long as I was in American custody."
Kenderian said his book presents readers with a unique firsthand
account of war.
"It gives you a feeling about war, a different perspective than the
news or movies," Kenderian said of his book.
He described the hardships of survival such as being forced to fight
without adequate food, shelter or ammunition.
"We had no food, we lived on one bagel-sized piece of bread per day
and drank a lot of water," Kenderian said.
But draftee said he was relieved that he did not have to use a gun
during the war because of his conflicting loyalties.
Key to his survival, Kenderian said, were the lasting friendships he
made with his interrogators and a prison guard.
"It's a very special bond, and it's a very painful bond. I am still
in touch with these people," he said.
Areen Babajanian, a fourth-year economics and international development
studies student said he thinks the story of Kenderian's experiences
is compelling.
"I'm just really interested in the premise of the lecture and the
events he went through," Babajanian said.
Raffi Kassabian, a law student and the executive officer of AGSA, said
he thinks that Kenderian's experiences are particularly compelling
because the author has no political message and shares stories of
human relationships.
"The story sends a universal message that everyone can relate to,
whether it's religious or cultural," Kassabian said.