Ryan's Orphans

D-Day for the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines called for K and I Companies to land in the initial assault wave, followed by L Company under Major Michael Ryan. K and I Companies were pinned down by enfilading fire from the re-entrant beach. Like everyone in the second waves, …

1943-11-22

BRT03

D-Day for the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines called for K and I Companies to land in the initial assault wave, followed by L Company under Major Michael Ryan. K and I Companies were pinned down by enfilading fire from the re-entrant beach. Like everyone in the second waves, Ryan's company found themselves wading ashore across exposed reef toward the beach where prospects did not look good. Out of radio contact with the regiment, Ryan took charge of his company and the remnants of 3/2 and started to gain ground with his motley battalion.

Betio Island, Tarawa

The Battle of Tarawa was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that was fought on 20–23 November 1943. It took place at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in the fighting, mostly on and around the small island of Betio, in the extreme southwest of Tarawa Atoll.

American

Japanese

Scenario Type = Standard