“I can’t cry in the first minute of a film” With this one you can and you will! It’s okay, it happens to all of us.

11:21 They are called barrage balloons. They prevented enemy aircraft from getting too close for bombing/strafing runs. The cables holding the balloons could cut a plane in two.

love how when he was dying he was calling for his mother. so many people do this when dying because they go to a place in their head as in their mother to were they felt protected and loved. there is nothing like a mothers love.

Saw this when it first came out. Served 10 years in the Navy as a Corpsman, 8 with Marines. It was a Tuesday matinee. There were 12 of us, all veterans. When it was over we all had tears. One old man his hat said Survivor D-Day. I asked him what he thought of the movie. His exact answer "It was the best war movie I've ever seen, but as for D-Day, those scenes didn't even come close." I have always deferred to his expert opinion.

I had a granpa who was in Europe during WWII. He was a career Army man, and proud of it. That green/brown blanket they covered the medic with after he died....I slept under one of those many many nights at my grandparents' house. Every time I see that scene, I'm happy he was able to bring HIS blanket home and I got to fall asleep under it and feel safe under it. Great reaction, guys.

My Grandfather was wounded at The Battle of the Bulge. He was shot in the back and it blew an exit wound in his chest the size of a small fist. He laid on the ground for hours and was only noticed when his fellow soldiers were checking the bodies and stripping them for ammo and weapons. He spent almost a year in a VA hospital back in the states, and that's where he met my Grandmother. They both had the same last name, and my Grandmother's Brother kept getting my Grandfather's mail by mistake. So, she would bring it to him. That entire generation was made of stronger stuff than we'll ever know.

I was still on active duty when this film came out. I remember watching it for the first time, on video tape, in my barracks room. And just sitting there in stunned silence through the entire run of credits at the end. We had a 3-mile timed run the next morning, and all I could think about while I was running was that opening battle scene and how there was no way I could break stride running around a parade ground when those men went through something like that. I mean, I was a student of history long before I decided to enlist & I knew in an academic sense what Normandy must have been like, but seeing it depicted in such brutal detail on my tv screen was a whole different level. This is definitely one of those movies that makes you reevaluate your life, and recognize just how petty most of our complaints truly are.

Awesome reaction. I'm a veteran. I served in the U.S. Navy from '89-'93 & was in Operation: Desert Shield & Operation: Desert Storm. Thank you very much for the kind words at the end of your video. It really means alot to all veterans. Sometimes, a simple thank you and a handshake is all we need.

The blimps are called barrage balloons. They have a thick cable running down from them so that if an enemy aircraft tried to fly through the area there is a DAMN good chance that a wing will be ripped off the aircraft.

I appreciated how it briefly but poignantly showed the impact and importance of the families. The mother of course, but also how Ryan's entire life was validated by his wife's "You are".

Everytime I see the beach scene, my brain cannot comprehend that so many people were willing to fight and give their life for Europe's freedom (I'm Dutch) I also cannot watch this movie without absolutely bawling my eyes out.

Such a beautiful movie...I agree that it is Spielberg's best. My dad served in the Korean War, but died young at 54 when I was 18. Now I'm older than he was and miss him more as I get older. Thank you to all the veterans!

When the theatre lights came on after this movie, I noticed I looked at all the older men in the audience much differently. While they were slower or more bent over with age, most of them were our soldiers and had gone through similar ordeals. My uncle fought in WWII and my grandfather in WWI and while I saw them as only my relatives for most of my life, seeing my grandfather's photograph in his combat uniform or my uncle among the ruins of Berlin made me feel even more respect for them than I already had. Saving Private Ryan was a powerful film.

My great grandfather Francis was a sniper. Among other battles, he fought in Normandy on D-Day and in the battle of the bulge. My grandfather Clifton was in the Army Air Corps. He loaded bombs onto the aircraft. His cousin was a famous fighter pilot, and my grandfather would always keep an eye out for his plane and greet him by his first name whenever he landed safely. My father was an infantry officer in the Michigan National Guard, his brother was a gunner in the Navy, and their brother in law served in the Army. I served in the Marine Corps as a MAGTF Planner.

If you can watch the ending when Ryan is at the cemetery with his family without crying, you have no soul.

My grand uncle Lyle fought and died in the battle of the bulge in the ardennes in December 1944. He was just 19 years old. It’s mind boggling to me. He was just a kid. His body never made it stateside, but his harmonica did, and on the case which is wrapped in medical tape, reads “To hell and back”. Pretty somber feeling holding that. Thank you to all veterans, past and present, for such a great sacrifice for everything we have today.

My best friend's dad is a marine, a Huey driver in Vietnam. Never saw the dude cry til he took us to see this movie when we were teenagers. He walked out in the middle of the opening scene in Normandy weeping. Haven't seen him cry since. It's important to note vets aren't a monolith. He remains a staunch antiwar vet to this day, and forbade my best friend from following in his footsteps and joining the Marines. Probably a good thing, we graduated from high school in 1999, 2 years later America was in Afghanistan, and 4 years later the Marines were in Fallujah. Vietnam was a much different beast than WW2, though.

This was quite the emotional cinematic experience in the theater. After the movie ended I was so numb leaving the movie,and I was so quiet for several hours after.

My wife's grandad was in the landings at the start of this film. He told me, not long before he passed, that this was the closest a film has come to showing what the D Day landings were really like. He would never talk about his experiences of the war but he cried when we watched this.

One of my favorites. No matter how many times I watch it, I always get choked up at two moments in this film. When Mrs. Ryan received the visit from the Chaplain and of course when James Francis Ryan breaks down and asks his wife if he was a good man at the end. Always gets me. To all the veterans out there and the veterans families, Thank you.

My grandfather was a Ranger in WW2, so I've always had a special connection with this film. Especially when I was the only one that he talked to about the war. One of the best war films I've ever seen. I remember the first time I watched this was at my Aunt & Uncle's house. Was the only time where I stood up and cussed at the screen and didn't get in trouble for it. You two have good hearts and when good hearted people watch a film like this there's bound to be tears. This is a good one. (Reaction & Film)

A fact: When Matt Damon was talking to Tom Hanks about his brother's before they went to war and having a laugh about it, that was all improv and they even keep when Hanks looks off to Spielberg to see if this was apart of the scene or not

My Grandad served in Burma during the Second World War. He was a British soldier and like his allies and brothers across the pond. Fought with bravery and great distinction. A prayer to all soldiers killed, wounded in the past and present we thank you for your sacrifice and to all serving soldiers thank you too.

My grandfather was at Normandy and lived to save the group of soldiers who were with him and to tell me all his stories of what they went through-I looked up to him he was my “Father Figure” since I didn’t have a father and he passed in 2001-PFC Jesus M Ramos-This movie just makes you appreciate everything past and present soldiers do for our country🙏❤️

Her reaction was beautiful. Made me cry along with her at the end there. And I've seen this many times. Still gets me. Thanks for watching this. And thank you to everyone who has served.

I cannot wait for your Band of Brothers reaction. It's always way more emotionally drawing since SPR was a fictional story aside from the WW2 aspect and the battle of Omaha Beach where as Band of Brothers is based off non fiction and features the actual veterans speaking at the beginning of each episode and you wont get names to faces till the final episode to avoid spoilers. It is an emotional and amazing journey seeing how these heroes were during the war.

I have 23 years of serving in the United States Army with 7 combat tours under my belt. War is never good and the most horrible experience and no matter what year war occurs, past and present, it always seems the same. Thank you both for sharing your reaction.

Yup. I cry every time I'm a 55 yr old man. This is my ole yeller. I listened to the stories of my uncle. And I'm glad and hopeful your gonna do band of brothers. Episode 5 Carintan. Is all about my uncle. Except he saved 50 soldiers in a farmhouse. Awarded a silver star. Robert Burns 348th anti tank corps. Thank you for recognizing him. He never mentioned his service. He came home and was a pediatrician at group health. Everyone thought he was a lovely man. Including me. I was honored to help him in his final years as a caregiver. That's where I heard his stories. He was an amazing hero. He didn't kill people in ww2 he saved people. To me that is the best story about war. Cause war is fucking awful. Saving people's lives seems to me as the best duty ever.

The "Blimps", as you call them, were actually barrage balloons, which would make it more difficult for German fighter planes to strafe the Americans on the beaches. Fighter pilots, German or otherwise, liked to come in very low during their strafing runs. Pilots ran the risk of becoming ensnared in the cables that anchored the balloons to the ground. In case you don't know, strafing is the process by which fighter planes would kill infantry by spraying them with machine gun fire. They could kill hundreds of soldiers at a time. American fighter bombers ran wild in Normandy, shooting up infantry, convoys, endless numbers of trucks and assorted armored vehicles. And there you have it.

The opening scene with the old veteran and his family gets me everytime! None other film in movie history has made me already cry within the first few minutes (''Up'' is a 2nd one tho, but that's after, I guess, 10 minutes, still, that's even an Animation movie). Greetings from The Netherlands, and thank to all the WWII veterans for their deeds to save us from the Nazis!

You know its a serious movie when the dude stops eating the popcorn in pure shock.

Served in the Navy for 41 years, wife served four years in the Marine Corps. Dad was a Navy Corpsman for 7 years in WWII and was in the Battle of Okinawa, Both children served in the Navy, son for 10 years before being medically retired, daughter is still serving now in her 12th year. One brother served 20 years in the Air Force, another brother served 20 years in the Marine Corps. Don't feel bad I still tear up watching Saving Private Ryan and watching your reaction video. Memorial Day is to remember the Veterans who died in the Military. Veterans Day is to remember all Veterans. Armed Forces Day is to thank and remember all Military members who are currently serving.

"How do you even keep moving forward when everyone around you is dying?" I don't know, but they did. God bless them did.

Hi from the UK 🇬🇧, shortly after my Dad was born my grandfather died on the HMS Hood, pride of the Royal Navy when it came into contact with the German battleship Bismark, the second shot from the Bismark hit the ammo storage and Hood exploded. My other grandfather was a Royal engineer in the North Africa campaign, as we got older he would tell us some of his stories... Harrowing. It's amazing the sacrifices they made for us. All the best 🇬🇧🇺🇸

If you dont cry at any point in this movie, there is something wrong with you. The medic scene kills me everytime. God bless our troops. Past, present, and future

This is an incredible movie. I remember seeing this theatrically with some older veterans in the audience and I don’t remember ever being so moved to tears when I saw these heroes crying. Thank you to all who have ever served past and present.😢

I saw this movie at the theater with my uncle. He was a LT-COL in the Army and we both heard how realistic it was. Being that the draft has long been lifted, I was lucky to never have had to be drafted or seen any kind of conflict. My uncle served two tours in Viet Nam, was in Yemen during the Gulf War back around 1990 and was a lead surgeon during the Disco bombing in Berlin as he was stationed in Germany then. He retired after 25 years of service and was a chief surgeon for Albany General Hospital for quite a few years. He was rendered with brain damage after leaving our home after a Thanksgiving feast. Crossing an intersection, he was tee-boned by a young lady. Most of his motor functions failed even after he was considered fully recovered about a year later. He passed away about two years ago, and this movie just reminds me of his time in the service. He'll always be one of the greatest heroes I've ever known. RIP Uncle Mike (James Ryan was his actual name, but he went by his middle one).

***THE BLIMPS*** back then, were used to keep Small fighter planes from flying in and strafing the beaches . TODAY, blimps are often found at forward bases because the have cameras ( regular , infrared and thermal imaging cameras to keep watch over the areas of small and large FOB's ( Forward Bases ). Smaller COP's ( Combat outposts ) These days, might have a 30 or 40 foot tower erected with a sophisticated camera system on it for an over watch of the area.

Spent a lot of time during this reaction thinking about my dad who I saw this with the day it came out. He was a Vietnam vet, did two tours there. Passed 8 years ago last month. Not sure where I was going there but I’ll have an anti cry 🍺.

My personal hero, My Grandfather who fought in the Navy in WWII on a destroyer in the Pacific. He was a loader for one of the big guns. He survived though he lost several fingers during battle as they were firing shells so fast he had his fingers get caught in the breach and off they went along with the shell. I miss him. I’m now 51 and married to a wonderful Japanese woman. It’s strange how things come to be… thank you Grandpa Lloyd. Thank you.

My father served in Vietnam. He passed away just over a year ago. He is interred in Arlington. I am very proud he earned that. Yeah, this movie hits you in the guts many times over.

This, Band of Brothers and The Pacific are basically the great trifecta from Steven Spielberg his opus and tribute to the soldiers of World War 2.

"straight to the scope" only the 'white death' pull such unbelievable shot & without scope on his gun. the greatest among the best.

The miss is a trooper she held her tears at bay. The anti cry drink actually works.

It's good to know that, in another life, Daniel Faraday was an awkward yet scholarly soldier.

My dad spent most of WWII at the controls of a B17, my uncle was 101st Airborne from before D-Day until VE- Day, and my step-dad was 5th Army and, as he put it, swam ashore in Normandy and walked to Berlin. Both my uncle and step-dad were with groups that liberated concentration camps and neither one could ever manage talk about it.

My Great Grandpa served in World War 2. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 100. His name is Clarence West. He was such a nice and gentle person. Always went to church on sundays and played Golf until the day he passed. I was blessed to visit him on his 100th birthday and see him smile despite what was going on in the world at the time. We shared some heart felt words together. God Bless our Soldiers! Thank You for your Service and our freedoms

As a soldier I appreciate you honest reaction to the things and people who have a will always sacrifice for the lovely people of this great country’s freedoms! God bless you guys.

How quickly you guys have become my favorite channel on here.

You'd also like a movie called Hacksaw Ridge. Another war movie based on a true story. The emotion set in this movie and Hacksaw honours the representation

The barrage balloons were used to discourage air attack. Such as strafing, low level bombing and dive bombing. They were also used over land to protect important targets. Some planes had cable cutters on their wings.

The blimps by the beach were called barrage balloons. They were attached to thick steel cables on the surface and made it harder for airplanes to make attack runs against the ships and ground targets.

My Grandfather landed on Omaha Beach with the 'Big Red One' (the First Infantry Division) on D-Day. First combat he ever saw. This movie never fails to conjure him up in my memory. He seems to have had a different story of the war for every member of the family but no one has one of the landing. As far as I know, mine is the closest in time/space; it occurred a couple weeks later some miles inland of the beach. I imagine only my Grandmother knew all the stories Grandpa was willing to tell of that time in his life. He was a difficult man to get close to but I miss him almost every day in some way.

I've never watched the movie - and didn't cry at the end. This movie hits as deep as any movie ever made.

Now that you’ve seen Saving Private Ryan, you’ve got to watch Band of Brothers. It’s one of the best pieces of cinema/film ever produced. Spielberg and Hanks decided to make Band of Brothers after doing the research for SPR, and discovering the insane true stories that the vets went through.

I served as an Army Infantry (Grunt) Sergeant. As a 19-year-old, African American Grunt Private, during the period December 1983-December 1984. I earned my Combat Infantryman Badge for my service inside the Korean DMZ. Essentially, there's no place to run or to hide while engaged in a combat mission. So, you fight to win. We (Grunts) never quit on our brothers, and we never leave our brothers behind. Your emotions and commentary touched my heart. I often wonder if my experiences and service made a difference. South Korea remains free, so I'm thankful. Unfortunately, very nice guys are hurt and are lost to war. This movie demonstrates how brutal and senseless war has always been. I would do it all again and make the same sacrifices.

Most beautiful reaction on a movie I've ever seen. Made even me cry. My cousin, Ronald Engelen is a Marine Corps veteran from The Netherlands during a Dutch mission in Cambodia '92-'93.

In the US civil war units were recruited from specific communities. Gave the units a built in sense of community. A fair number of these were wiped out to the last man. Whole towns were left without male population and abandoned. The US abandoned the practice of allowing relations and communities to serve together in units.

My grandfather, Moses F. Diaz served in the Navy and Army during World War II and the Korean War. He passed away this year at 93 years old. Thanks to both of you for watching this one, I always enjoy your comments on these films.

My father served in the 8th Army Air Force in World War Two as a radio/radar operator on a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. He and his crew flew 33 missions over Germany, including 4 missions to Berlin. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five awards of the Air Medal. He never talked about the war, but my mother said he came back a different man then when he left. He became an alcoholic, and a violent one, and my mother was forced to divorce him when I was 7 years old. Back then, they didn't know about Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome or the mental and emotional toll combat took on the men and women who fought and there was no help for them. He died in 1992. Growing up I hated him for what he was and could never understand why my mother still spoke of him until her death. Then I joined the Army and was sent to Vietnam and I finally understood what combat can do to a person and I saw my father in a different light. I suffered from severe PTSD and, like my father, climbed into a bottle to try and forget. Thank God my wife never gave up on me and I have been sober for almost 35 years. But I continued to suffer nightmares and sudden bursts of anger. I never knew when it was going to happen. Then, in 2012, I accepted Jesus into my life and God led me to a new friend in my church who was a licensed psychologist, who over a two-year period, and at no cost, helped bring joy and peace back into my life. My wife, my angel, and I celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary May 30 of this year. We saw Saving Private Ryan at the theater and it was then I truly realized that my father and his brothers and sisters in arms truly were the "Greatest Generation!" It sickens me to see what the America they fought and died for has become and the very dangerous road the Marxist Democrats are taking us down.

A masterpiece of a film, and great reaction. Thanks guys from the UK.

"Earn it." Two words that sum up anyone's lives that we could live after such an almost world as we know it ending war. Thanks to all the American soldiers and also the allied soldiers trying to free their country from Nazi oppression all over the world. Between this and Schindler's List, these are two of Speilberg's absolute best.

While he may be a modern veteran, my older cousin is an Afghanistan veteran. Jackson, the sniper in this film, reminds me a lot of him. I don't know anyone who dislikes my cousin....he's such an awesome guy to hang around. My hat is off to him for his service, and all like him...past, present, and future.

14:43 a couple of things to note with the sniper scene: - The shot as seen in the movie is theoretically impossible to pull off. Bullets drop as they travel through the air; based on where Jackson is in relation to the German sniper in the tower (400 yards), gravity would’ve pushed the round down far enough that if it did hit the scope, it wouldn’t pass through the other end. The round would most likely damage the scope and probably user, but not kill him. -That being said, the movie based this scene off of a real sniper kill done in the Vietnam War by USMC GySgt. Carlos Hathcock during a day-long duel with a Vietcong sniper. Hathcock himself said that the only way this could’ve been done was if both men were aiming directly at each other, and he just happened to fire first. That being said, Hathcock’s shot wasn’t nearly as far as Jackson’s, as it was only around 100 yards, the length of a football field. -They chose a Vietnam sniper shot to replicate simply because back in WWII, the American Army didn’t utilize large number of snipers like the Soviets, Germans, or British. America’s doctrine was highly mobile and were mainly on the offensive during the fighting in Europe. Snipers are best used for defensive purposes, as one well placed sniper can effectively halt the advance of an entire unit. -It’s also unlikely a shot like this would ever happen again. Modern day sniper scopes have several lenses of varying thickness inside, which means more material for the bullet to pass through and thus, lose velocity. It may injure the guy behind the scope, but not kill him. Mythbusters actually tried to replicate the shot and failed to do so because they were using modern day sniper scopes and not WWII-era ones that had one or two lenses in them, essentially being equivalent to a modern day red dot sight.

The opening scene is probably the best of any movie ever made.

Your tears and words at the end really choked me up, so thanks for that 😢😁 btw I think your words were perfect 👍👊 I'd also like to thank everyone who has served, past, present and future, from your country and mine, and all other allied countries. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.

My father took me to see this in theatre, he was a veteran of the war in Vietnam. He's since passed and I miss him every day.

The opening Normandy Beach scene could be a stand-alone short it's so amazing.

Such an intense start, then they hit you with the emotional letter scene and the Chaplin visiting the mom….what put me over the edge was Wade dying calling for his momma….

Greatest war movie ever about the greatest generation ever. Been waiting for this a long time

Masterful storytelling…a dying art…such a great way to relive this experience…Thank you guys.

Love you guys! Marine Veteran here and it's great to see 2 people who appreciate our veterans who sacrificed in the line of duty. I'm forever grateful.

For anybody going to Normandy, a visit to the American cemetery is compulsory. Such a quiet beautiful piece of American territory, but so overwhelming, especially when you realize of its size. I'm somehow glad that they have this place to rest in peace.

Again this is one of the best reactions I seen to this and I'm still crying

One of Steven Spielberg's finest work. Thank god there's are outstanding directors like him that conveyed such a picture in this movie that every generation in future can watch a film like this and appreciate what the WW2 generation had to sacrifice to give us freedom and peace.

Saving Private Ryan changed the way that war movies were made. Prior to this most of them didn't show the violence in such a realistic and sustained way. And even since then there's really only a handful of war movies that can match what Saving Private Ryan did. Those are Black Hawk Down (2001), We Were Soldiers (2002), and Lone Survivor (2013) all three of which I very highly recommen

Later on in the war barrage balloons were used by England to carry rolls of cable over occupied Europe & those cables were timed to release dragging the cables & taking out electrical grids. It was a very cost effective weapon.

This movie is so great. It also facilitated the production of the best war mini-series, Band of Brothers. If you haven't seen it, it is a must watch

I love how the guy just sat there eating popcorn chill as can be.

This movie really kept the Mrs. hydrated, that’s for sure.

The blimps, are connected to the ships with lines and secure them from enemy aircraft. Especially low-flying aircraft that drop bombs or torpedoes.

If you're ever in Honolulu, go check out the cemetery at the Punchbowl honoring the heroes of the Pacific. It is a beautiful tribute. Along with the Arizona memorial of course. It makes me extremely angry at people who take freedom so lightly... like it's just a thing that's always been there and doesn't need protecting. I spent 4 years active and 4 reserve in the Air Force during the Clinton years so nothing much was going on. I don't feel like I come close to measuring up with these guys or my dad who served in the Army in Vietnam. The WWII vets are the greatest generation and we're losing them more and more every day.

Captain Miller's admonition to Ryan to "earn It" is an admonition to us all! We should all EARN IT as a show of respect for the sacrifices our soldiers made in WWII. Live a life that would make them proud.

Colleville cemetery over Omaha beach is indeed a beautiful place. Two of the Niland brothers rest there next to each other. This movie is based on their family story. One died June 6th 1944. The other on June 7th 1944. The ground in front of their graves is worn away from the amount of visitors.

This was a moment for my family. My entire family went to the theatre to watch it. That was in 1998. It still stands as the greatest war film (in my opinion any film) ever made.

God bless soldiers worldwide.

I remember seeing this movie in the theatre on opening night. Pretty much everyone just sat there through the credits and quietly left afterwards. Never heard such a quiet theatre.

Both grandfathers served. The greatest generation.

Tom Hanks' character basically cursed Matt damon with that "earn this". That man spent 60 years in abject terror that he had several men's souls on his conscience.

Those blimps are barrage balloons. They stop bombers and fighters from low air attacks.

My grandpa was drafted at 20 years old in WWII and was captured in France and a POW for almost a year. He wouldn't talk much about it. But what he did tell was horrible. I have high respect for veterans and our active military.

It blows my mind how many big time actors were in this movie! I cant think of anything with a cast like this! WOW!

"Whenever you're scared, I want you to close your eyes and think of these..." Reminds me... in the book "God is My Co-Pilot", Colonel Robert Lee Scott relates his experiences with the AVG, the Flying Tigers. One night they're sitting around bsing, and they talk about what they're fighting for. They conclude that what they were fighting for was The American Girl. She, to them, was apple pie America. And now I hate 2021 again.

Mrs: I don't like really long things... Mr: Alright!

I saw this when it premiered in theaters about 10 older veterans walked out crying it hit them really hard I can't even imagine how they felt.

I greatly appreciate your comments and emotional reaction. Two years after this great film came out, my grandfather passed away from cancer in 2000. He enlisted in 1942 (age 20-21) & served in the 5th Ranger Battalion that trained in Tennesee. Eventually shipped out to Britain in late 1943/early 1944 in preparation for Operation Overlord. Trained in Special Cliff Operations in the Highlands of Scotland in early 1944 alongside his fellow Rangers (plus other Allied/UK Special forces) before D-Day. On June 6th, 1944, he subsequently climbed the cliffs of Point du Hoc. He had to carry his BAR into battle in rough terrain under heavy fire, search & eventually destroy the German Howitzers that greatly saved thousands of his fellow countrymen on the beaches. As history goes, the Rangers had to traverse miles of the French countryside for the repositioned guns after hours of naval & air bombardment prior to the invasion forced the Germans back from Point du Hoc. My grandfather was one man out of 75 men (out of 225 Rangers, 67% of the unit were wounded or killed) who was able to reach the top of Point du Hoc & keep on fighting beyond the Longest Day. Played a part of Operation Cobra in the breakout out of Normandy. Into the battle of Saint-Lo in July 1944, he got wounded when a piece of mortar shrapnel hit his leg (from his calf to above his ankle) & took him out of action. The 29th Infantry Battalion alongside another American division with small groups of Army Rangers (intermix of the remaining 2nd & 5th Ranger Battalions) took massive losses from German artillery destroying the town. My grandfather would have met his end at Saint-Lo, but thankfully he had a guardian angel over him. Over the years, I was told by my father & my aunt that after he got wounded, my grandfather was saved by a Sherman Tank Crew from the 747th Independent tank division that came to support the 29th Infantry division to take ruins of Saint-Lo & were attempting to gather all the wounded GIs during the course of the battle. It's still very unclear how many were saved on that day alongside my grandfather, but as a result of them saving lives, the Sherman Tank Commander was the only casualty while gathering up the wounded men under heavy fire. Due to their courageous actions, my grandfather lived, was able to go home to raise a family, & eventually serve as a police officer (SGT) for nearly 25 years until he retired in 1978. He got the Bronze Star for his heroic actions on D-Day & 2 Purple Hearts in the Fall of 1944. In both civilian life & his long days in law enforcement, he had to take small amounts of morphine (inside a capsule attached to a sliver neck chain around his neck) every day due to the wounds he received in the war until his last days on this earth. A reminder of the sacrifices he made in the defense of America, her people & the liberation of Europe. My grandfather's mother was a German immigrant & orphan who came to America in the 1890s when her homeland (early German Empire) was facing some social destabilization. My grandfather had no ill will against the majority of the German troops he fought against in the Liberation of France. He always respected the Germans (the Wehrmacht/cousins) for their military leadership, combat efficiency & historical discipline. He absolutely hated the Nazi idealogy, who only represented Hitler & a few thousand people in the SS divisions that committed the Holocaust. Like everyone else who first watched the movie, I began to truly understand & greatly appreciate the sacrifices my grandfather & the millions of soldiers made in WWII. That includes the common German Soldier (non-SS/Nazi) who fought not for Hitler, but for their family & their country. This film will always be one of my favorite films about WWII despite some of its flaws. I always got emotional at the end of the film when Miller tells Ryan that "Earn this" & it cuts to Ryan asking his wife if he was a good man. My grandfather never ever saw Saving Private Ryan in the last years of his life (did like the movie The Longest Day), but like most veterans, he would have attempted to avoid seeing the horrors of war again. I am immensely grateful to have known him before his passing & I am proud to be his grandson. This is a story I like to share with those who have first watched this film and Band of Brothers on KZfaq. If I had to create a title to describe his WWII story it would be called... "Liberation at the Gates"

I'm tearing up just watching you guys view this masterpiece. It's one of my favorites.

Even non Americans like me feel emotional when watching this masterpiece... it's very moving and deep... this movie shows the meaning of sacrifice very clearly... there is also a meaningful reason for why the sacrifice was made...

My Grandad flew in the polish air force squadrons (300, 301 & 303) after having lied about his age and joining up to fight the Nazis at the age of 15, after fleeing Poland and learning that 27 out of the 30 members of our family had been put to death in the camps. He few Spitfires, Hurricanes, Wellingtons and Lancasters, (amongst others) performing bombing raids and night photo reconnaissance I'm not sure on the details but at one point he was interred in a camp himself towards the end of the war. Thankfully the camp was liberated and he was able to come to Britain and start a new life, thanks to the amazing ground troops (and all other members of the armed forces) that helped fight and free us from tyranny. I myself hoped to live up to his legacy and joined the Air force myself and have served in Iraq & Afghanistan I remember being 10 years old, and noticing tattoo on his arm and asking him 'Grandad, why did you get such a silly tattoo?' I didn't understand his reply at the time, when he simply said, 'For you!'

Had a family member that participated in D-Day. After watching the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan I can't begin to imagine what his experience was like.