![\"blog-saving_private_ryan.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/blog-saving_private_ryan.jpg\")
The source of the story in Saving Private Ryan<\/a>, Steven Spielberg\u2019s tour-de-force motion picture on the second world war, was in reality based on a very real story that did take place, despite the very many skeptics who regard it impossible that the United States army would risk the lives of other soldiers just to save one. The following is an extract from D-Day by Stephen Ambrose:<\/p>\n\u201c\u2026 The third volunteer, Sgt. Bob Niland, was killed at his machine gun. One of his brothers, a platoon leader in the 4th Division, was killed the same morning at Utah Beach. Another brother was killed that week in Burma. Mrs. Niland received all three telegrams from the War Department announcing the deaths of her sons on the same day. Her fourth son, Fritz, was in the 101st Airborne; he was snatched out of the frontline by the Army.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In the DVD edition of Saving Private Ryan, there is a behind the scenes documentary on the making of the motion picture; and it includes a segment where the surviving Nilands in the family are interviewed.<\/p>\n
Additional Links: An Interview with Stephen Ambrose<\/a>; Extensive online article on the D-Day Landings<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Another short entry I wrote, which was originally posted up here on 6 Oct 2000. The source of the story in Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg\u2019s tour-de-force motion picture on the second world war, was in reality based on a<\/p>\n