Jeremy Edwards Shiok presents 'Atoll: A Historical Journey to the Central Pacific' on Nov. 11

Thursday, Nov. 11, 5-7 p.m.
UAA Campus Bookstore

With the assistance of the U.S. National Archives, the U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command, the United States Marine Corps History Division and several smaller archival sources in Connecticut, Florida, Texas, American Samoa, Wallis Island and Tarawa, writer Jeremy Edward Shiok has been able to establish the wartime itinerary of his grandfather, Edward W. Shiok (1924-1988), which he travels in 2010.

The route will retrace the V Amphibious Corps, 8th Defense Battalion, from Pago Pago (American Samoa), to Wallis & Futuna (French Overseas Territory), Funafuti (Tuvalu) and finally Tarawa and the outer atoll of Abemama (Republic of Kiribati). In each location Shiok will meet with local historians and cultural leaders in an attempt to absorb the atmosphere of the native culture and environment, to understand what effects American military actions had on local populations and to hear contemporary concerns for the future.

A writer, editor and publisher, Jeremy Edward Shiok has lived in Alaska since 2000. He received his Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2003 and also has taught in the CWLA Dept at UAA.

Shiok is the founder of Cold Press Publishing, an independent publisher located in Anchorage. Under the CPP imprint, he edits and produces Two Review, a journal of international poetry and creative nonfiction, now in its fourth year.

Everyone is invited to attend this free event. Free parking is available. For more information, please contact Rachel Epstein at (907) 786-4782.