On man changed Greece and Turkey forever.

• Author: Jennings, Roger L.
• Position: Asa K. Jennings

Editor's Note: In this remarkable example of "citizen diplomacy," one determined individual saved countless lives. While the Turks, Greeks and Armenians all hotly contest the facts of the "burning of Smyrna" and the turmoil of the period even today, one issue is not in dispute--the courage and resourcefulness of the author's grandfather.

How the Greeks, Armenians and Jews were saved at Smyrna, and how Turkey was put on a course of peace and prosperity is revealed for the first time from private archives.

According to the Armenian proverb, "within the heart of every man sleeps a lion." All citizens hope and expect that their leaders will deal effectively with the issues of the day, but at times that does not occur. Then the citizen must act. The obstacles can be overwhelming. A special person is required to be successful.

One such person unknown today saved 350,000 people from certain death in 11 days and 1,250,000 in nearly a year. (2) This person then created the social relief and vocational training programs to raise the standard of living of a nation. When he died, his son carried on his work including arming the nation to preclude an invasion by Germany during World War II. The son then convinced the Government to risk its neutral status and a German invasion by allowing ships with flags of neutral countries, but loaded with food and arms from the United States, to pass through its territorial waters enroute to Russia. Providing aid to Russia helped to keep the Nazi army divided and fighting on two fronts.

The unknown person was Asa K. Jennings, an employee of the YMCA. He was sent to Smyrna, Turkey (known today as Izmir), in August 1922 with his family. Only 5'3" in height with a double curvature of his spine and still suffering the effects of tuberculosis, Asa was left in charge of the YMCA while others went on vacation. Two weeks later the Turkish Army defeated the Greek Army. The Greek Army retreated in panic to the port city of Smyrna along with thousands of civilians.

In 1919 Greece had landed an Army of some 60,000 troops at Smyrna. The Army drove inland with the intent to annex part of the Ottoman Empire as new territories of Greece. This was to be a reward for joining the Allies during World War I. Other countries also occupied parts of Turkey pursuant to the Treaty of Sevres. The Nationalist Government of Turkey and its leader Mustafa Kemal, later known as Ataturk, rejected the Treaty. The Nationalists formed an army and attacked the Greeks.

Civilians for two hundred miles around feared the advancing Turks. Five trains a day each with 55 cars packed with people brought refugees to Smyrna. There was a steady stream of humanity walking and riding in carts, all heading for the safety of Smyrna. Food and water were scarce. The Greek Army proceeded to Cesme outside of Smyrna to board ships. No police or soldiers were in the city to protect the civilians from robbery, rape and killing.

Asa Jennings formed the American Relief Committee. Most of its members were from the International College in the Paradise section (now known as Sirinyer) of Smyrna. They arranged for flour to be sent from the warehouse of Near East Relief in Istanbul on U.S. Navy ships to feed the masses. Ovens and fuel had to be found. Wealthy Greeks who could pay for passage out of the City donated their houses to the Committee. One house became a maternity ward. Others became orphanages for 2000 children. Young, vulnerable women were crowded into other houses to avoid the most unspeakable of crimes. Representatives of Near East Relief, American Women's Hospital, Red Cross and other organizations joined the relief effort. The U.S. Navy had several destroyers in the Eastern Mediterranean with crews of about 100-125 men per ship to provide humanitarian aid. The sailors patrolled the city, but were greatly outnumbered by the undisciplined brigands who entered the City intent on plunder before the Turkish Army arrived. The U.S. Navy panned its searchlights at night over the masses of people huddled on the wharf as a way of preventing some of the crimes being committed against people. The people were praying for ships to come to their rescue, but no ships came.

The senior U.S. diplomat present was George Horton. He was repeatedly invited to the meetings of the American Relief Committee. Asa asked George Horton at each meeting to take action on behalf of the refugees. There were now more than 350,000 people in the port, 300,000 of whom were Greeks. George Horton was married to a Greek woman. More than anyone...