▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁Thomas ▁John ▁Ryan , ▁Jr . ▁( August ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 0 1 ▁– ▁January ▁ 2 8 , ▁ 1 9 7 0 ) ▁was ▁a ▁career ▁American ▁naval ▁officer ▁who ▁received ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor , ▁the ▁United ▁States ' ▁highest ▁military ▁decor ation , ▁for ▁his ▁actions ▁while ▁in ▁Y ok oh ama , ▁Japan ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 2 3 ▁Great ▁Kant ō ▁earth qu ake . ▁ ▁Ryan ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁serve ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁as ▁a ▁destroy er ▁fl ot illa ▁commander . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Ryan ▁was ▁a ▁ 1 9 2 1 ▁gradu ate ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Naval ▁Academy ▁at ▁Ann apolis , ▁Maryland . ▁ ▁While ▁an ▁en sign , ▁he ▁was ▁in ▁Y ok oh ama , ▁Japan ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 2 3 ▁Great ▁Kant ō ▁earth qu ake , ▁during ▁which ▁he ▁saved ▁a ▁woman , ▁Mrs . ▁S lack , ▁from ▁the ▁burning ▁Grand ▁Hotel . ▁This ▁action ▁earned ▁Ryan ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor , ▁making ▁him ▁one ▁of ▁ 1 8 ▁men ▁to ▁receive ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁during ▁the ▁inter war ▁period ▁from ▁ 1 9 2 0 - 1 9 4 0 . ▁ ▁Ryan ▁was ▁presented ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁by ▁President ▁Cal vin ▁C ool idge ▁at ▁the ▁White ▁House ▁on ▁March ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 2 4 . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁During ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁Captain ▁Ryan ▁served