Was the movie Saving Private Ryan based on a true story?
The true story was – according to our research, the Ryan character is based on Fritz Niland, who lost two brothers in Normandy and a third brother, who was M.I.A. in Burma, was presumed dead. The third brother was later found alive. Niland, (the real soldier) was dropped behind German lines as were many other paratroopers mis-dropped all over Normandy. The military rule about sole surviving son’s being allowed out of combat is true. It was enacted after the five Sullivan brothers were killed in 1942 when the U.S.S. Juneau was sunk in the Pacific. The rule of the surviving son is common to many armies, the American, the Canadian, the British and the Israeli.
