This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Cpl Richard Campfield (gyrene79)
to remember
Marine Pvt Everett Bryant.
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Contact Info
Home Town Bernie
Last Address Pontiac, MI
MIA Date Jul 20, 1943
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Papua New Guinea
Location of Memorial Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
The Battle of Bairoko was a battle between American and Imperial JapaneseArmy and Navy forces on 20 July 1943 during the New Georgia Campaign in the Solomon Islands during the Pacific War. In the battle, U.S. MarineRaidersâ??supported by two U.S. Army infantry battalionsâ??attacked a Japanese garrison guarding the port of Bairoko on the Dragons Peninsula on New Georgia. The day-long assault on well-prepared Japanese defensive positions by the Americans was unsuccessful. After calling-off the assault, the Americans withdrew to nearby Enogai. The American forces remained in the Enogai area until the end of the New Georgia Campaign. The Japanese used Bairoko to resupply and reinforce their troops who were guarding an airfield at Munda Point on New Georgia. After the U.S. and its allies successfully captured the airfield, the Japanese evacuated New Georgia and abandoned Bairoko on 24 August. American losses were 50 KIA.
Other Comments:
Body Not Recovered
 Silver Star
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Everett Bryant (MCSN: 472392), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 4th Raider Battalion, at Bairoko Harbor, 20 July 1943. Never concerned with his own safety when he could strike a damaging blow at the enemy, he was persistent and audacious in the operation of his machine gun, bringing exceptionally effective fire to bear on strong Japanese positions. Even when he suffered a severe abdominal wound he refused evacuation and died several hours later, still manning the weapon with which he so heroically aided his company's defense. Action Date: July 20, 1943
Central Pacific Campaign (1941-43)/Gilbert Islands Operation (1943)
From Month/Year
November / 1943
To Month/Year
December / 1943
Description (Gilbert Islands operation November 13 - December 8, 1943) In the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, from November 1943 through February 1944, were key strategic operations of the United States Pacific Fleet and Marine Corps in the Central Pacific. The purpose was to establish airfields that would allow land based air support for the upcoming operations across the Central Pacific. The campaign began with a costly three-day battle for the island of Betio at the Tarawa atoll. The campaign was preceded a year earlier by a diversionary raid on Makin Island by U.S. Marines in August, 1942.
Japanese bases in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands were the outer perimeter of eastern defenses for the Japanese Empire. The Marianas Campaign followed the next summer.