▁as ▁a ▁destroy er ▁fl ot illa ▁commander ▁in ▁the ▁South ▁Pacific ▁while ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Third ▁Fle et ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Admir al ▁William ▁" B ull " ▁H alse y ▁and ▁saw ▁action ▁during ▁the ▁Sol omon ▁Islands ▁campaign . ▁ ▁He ▁commanded ▁the ▁destroy er ▁screen ▁which ▁supported ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁New ▁Georgia ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁assist ing ▁the ▁American ▁land ings ▁on ▁R end ova ▁Island ▁on ▁June ▁ 3 0 , ▁by ▁knock ing ▁out ▁Japanese ▁shore ▁batter ies . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Kol omb ang ara ▁two ▁weeks ▁later ▁on ▁July ▁ 1 2 – 1 3 , ▁he ▁was ▁in ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁rear ▁e ch el on ▁of ▁destroy ers ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁Wal den ▁L . ▁A ins worth ' s ▁Task ▁Force ▁ 1 8 . ▁ ▁A ▁tor ped o ▁fired ▁from ▁Ryan ' s ▁destroy ers ▁during ▁the ▁battle ▁may ▁have ▁hit ▁the ▁Japanese ▁cru iser ▁J int su , ▁which ▁was ▁s unk ▁during ▁the ▁battle . ▁ ▁A ▁month ▁later , ▁on ▁August ▁ 1 7 – 1 8 , ▁Ryan ▁led ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁destroy ers ▁which ▁engaged ▁a ▁Japanese ▁fl ot illa ▁composed ▁of ▁destroy ers , ▁b arg es , ▁and ▁other ▁light ▁vessels ▁under ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁M ats u ji ▁I ju in ▁which ▁were ▁attempting ▁to ▁rein force ▁the ▁island ▁of ▁Hor aniu ▁near ▁V ella ▁Lav ella . ▁ ▁Although