Background
He visited his father in Iraq in 1980, and 7 days later the Iran–Iraq War started, blocking him from leaving the country.
He visited his father in Iraq in 1980, and 7 days later the Iran–Iraq War started, blocking him from leaving the country.
He wrote a book about his adventures, and is currently an engineer in Pasadena. Shant Kenderian was an Iraqi-born United States permanent resident of Armenian Christian background attending Wheeling High School in Chicago. After graduating college in 1985, he was forced into the Iraqi Navy and fought in the Iran–Iraq War.
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.
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 Prisoner Of War 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.
Current Shant Kenderian became an American citizen in 2000 and he received a Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2002.
He currently works for The Aerospace Corporation where he researches nondestructive testing.