Asa Jennings
Asa Kent Jennings (1877–1933) was a Methodist pastor from upstate New York and a member of the YMCA.[1] In 1904, while in his twenties, Jennings was struck down by Pott's disease, a type of tuberculosis which affects the spine. As a result of his tuberculosis, he stood not much taller than 5 foot and with a noticeable hunch back.[2] In 1922, he commanded the evacuation of 350,000 helpless Christian refugees from the shores of Smyrna (today İzmir) in Turkey following the Great Fire of Smyrna.[3][4] For his work, Greece awarded Jennings its highest civilian honour, the Order of the Redeemer, and the highest war honour, the medal of Military Merit.[5]
Asa Jenings | |
|---|---|
| Born | Asa Kent Jennings c. 1877 |
| Died | c. 1933 |
| Occupation | Pastor |
| Known for | Commanding the evacuation of 350,000 Greek Christian refugees during the Great Fire of Smyrna |
| Awards |  Order of the Redeemer Medal of Military Merit |
In 1945, MGM Studios made a 10-minute short film based on the life of Asa Jennings.[6]
In 2022, a documentary featuring Asa K. Jennings and his heroic efforts was produced by Mike Damergis. Smyrna - Paradise is Burning, The Asa K. Jennings story, was awarded Best Historical Film by Cannes World Film Festival (May). Asa Jennings, the Hero of the Smyrna Catastrophe - YouTube
References
- "Stitzer YMCA Center at Springfield College". spfldcol.edu. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- Lou Ureneck, The Great Fire: One man's mission to rescue victims of the 20th century's first genocide. Ecco, 2015. p18
- "How Jennings rescued the Christians of Smyrna". greece.org. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- "Jennings - One Man Changed Greece and Turkey Forever". unc.edu. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- Doubly honored by Greece The New York Times, December 28, 1922.
- "Strange Destiny (1945)". IMDb. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
External links
