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U.S. Navy

Thomas John Ryan Jr.

ConflictNoncombat

RankRear Admiral

Year of Action1923

BirthplaceNew Orleans, Louisiana

Citation

For heroism in effecting the rescue of a woman from the burning Grand Hotel, Yokohama, Japan, on 1 September 1923. Following the earthquake and fire which occurred in Yokohama on 1 September, Ens. Ryan, with complete disregard for his own life, extricated a woman from the Grand Hotel, thus saving her life. His heroic conduct upon this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and on the U.S. Navy, of which he is a part.

Branch: U.S. Navy Conflict: Noncombat Year of Action: 1923