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Asa Jenings
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Monument in Volos, Greece
dedicated to Asa Jennings in 2016 | |
| Born | c. 1877 |
| Died |
c. 1933
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| Occupation | Pastor |
| Known for | Commanding the evacuation of 350,000 refugees during the Great Fire of Smyrna |
| Awards |  Order of the Redeemer Medal of Military Merit |
Asa Kent Jennings (c. 1877–1933) was a Methodist pastor from upstate New York and a member of the YMCA.[1] In 1901 he became the membership secretary of the Utica, New York YMCA: he would later become the general secretary for the Carthage, New York 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] He began international work in 1918, as a regional secretary for the YMCA in France and Czechoslovakia.[1]
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]
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).[7]
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