Michael P. Ryan (USMC)
Michael Patrick Ryan | |
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2nd Marine Division 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade | |
| Battles/wars | World War II
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| Awards | Navy Cross Legion of Merit Distinguished Service Cross (UK) |
Michael Patrick Ryan (January 30, 1916 – January 9, 2005) was a highly decorated officer of the
Early career and World War II
Michael P. Ryan was born on January 31, 1916, in
Ryan enlisted in the
He was later called to extended active duty in November 1940 and commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Ryan was subsequently sent to
Ryan was transferred to the
During the
For his gallantry in action, Major Ryan was decorated with the Navy Cross, the second highest decoration for valor, and the British Distinguished Service Cross.[2][4]
Ryan was later appointed executive officer of the
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Michael Patrick Ryan (MCSN: 0-6934), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service while serving as Commanding Officer of Company L, Third Battalion, Second Marines, SECOND Marine Division, and also as Commanding Officer of a Composite Battalion, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 24 November 1943. Landing with his company in the fourth wave, Major Ryan courageously led a fierce, determined assault against the enemy and, retaining the initiative despite heavy casualties sustained by his forces, organized two other rifle companies with his own into a composite battalion which, under his skillful direction, successfully held a shallow beachhead throughout the remainder of the day and night. On the following morning, he led his composite unit in an aggressive attack toward the strongly-defended south beach of Betio Island, continually exposing himself to intense hostile fire and inspiring his men by his own personal valor until an important beachhead was cleared of the Japanese and reinforcements and supplies could be landed for our forces without resistance. Major Ryan's brilliant tactical ability and indomitable fighting spirit in the face of grave peril contributed in large measure to the ultimate capture of a highly strategic atoll and reflect great credit upon himself, his gallant command and the United States Naval Service.
Later career
Following the end of the war, Ryan decided to remain in the Marine Corps. He was subsequently sent to the Marine Corps Schools Quantico, Virginia, where he attended the Junior Course of the Amphibious Warfare School and following graduation, he was appointed an Infantry Instructor there. Ryan was subsequently transferred to Washington, D.C., and attached to the Division of Plans & Policies at Headquarters Marine Corps in September 1948. While in that capacity, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in April 1950.
During 1951, he was transferred to
Lieutenant Colonel Ryan was ordered stateside in June 1955 and after a brief stint with Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., he was sent to Hawaii to be appointed training officer with Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and later served as assistant operations officer with Headquarters and Service Battalion at Camp H. M. Smith. He was ordered back to Headquarters Marine Corps in 1957 and attached to the Plans & Policies Section, Personnel Division, as assistant chief. Ryan was promoted to the rank of colonel on August 1, 1958, and after another two years of duties there, he was transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, on June 21, 1960. where he served as commanding officer of the Recruit Training Regiment under Brigadier General George R. E. Shell.
In June 1963, Ryan was assigned to the Senior Course at the National War College. Following his graduation in July 1964, he was ordered back to Headquarters Marine Corps and appointed assistant director of Joint Planning Group within the Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in January 1966 and subsequently assumed duties as assistant chief of staff (G-2) for plans and operations. Ryan also graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the same year.
Ryan was transferred to
He was subsequently assigned to the
General Ryan remained in Quantico until May 1969, when he was transferred to
He returned once more to Japan and was appointed commanding general of
On October 17, 1975, his subordinate Colonel James L. Fowler wrote a memo to Ryan, outlining the idea of creating a Marine Corps Reserve Marathon to promote goodwill between the military and the post-Vietnam community. General Ryan embraced the idea and submitted it to then-Marine Corps Commandant General Louis H. Wilson Jr. for approval. With General Wilson's blessing, the planning process for the first Marine Corps Marathon began and the inaugural run took place on November 7, 1976.[1]
Major General Ryan retired from the Marine Corps on July 1, 1977, after 44 years of service. Upon his retirement, he settled in Texas, but later moved to California, where he died on January 9, 2005, in Northridge. Ryan is buried at Arlington National Cemetery together with his wife, Marjorie Eleanor Allen Ryan (1920–1998).[7] They had three children: Michael Patrick Ryan Jr. of Mexico City, Allen Frederic Ryan of Solana Beach, California, and Theresa Cecile Ryan of Northridge.[1]
Decorations
Below is the ribbon bar of Major General Michael P. Ryan:[4]
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| 1st Row | Navy Cross | Combat "V"
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| 2nd Row | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with two stars | Reserve Good Conduct Medal with one star | American Defense Service Medal with "A" Device | American Campaign Medal | ||||||||||||
| 3rd Row | European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one 3/16 inch silver service star
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World War II Victory Medal
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National Defense Service Medal with one star | ||||||||||||
| 4th Row | Korean Service Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with two 3/16 inch service stars | British Distinguished Service Cross | National Order of Vietnam, Grade Knight | ||||||||||||
| 5th Row | Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
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United Nations Korea Medal
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Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
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Vietnam Campaign Medal | ||||||||||||
References
- ^ a b c "Gen. Michael Ryan Dies; Helped Start Marathon". Washington Post. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- ^ a b "Fortitudine 31, Part 4" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- ^ a b "Tarawa on the Web". ibiblio.org. Tarawa on the Web Websites. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Valor awards for Michael P. Ryan". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- ^ "US Marine Corps in World War II – HyperWar (Saipan)". ibiblio.org. HyperWar Websites. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ "US Marine Corps in World War II – HyperWar (Tinian)". ibiblio.org. HyperWar Websites. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ a b "Burial Detail: Ryan, Michael Patrick". ANC Explorer. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
