Saving private Ryan door Max Allan Collins

Saving Private Ryan

The story starts at the US Military Cemetery St. Laurent on Omaha beach (Normandy, France). A man (who was a soldier in the World War II) took his wife, children and grandchildren with him.
Then the story goes back to 6 June 1944, back to Normandy. Captain John Miller and his squad are approaching Omaha beach. The landing is real tough. Many soldiers died when they tried storming the beach. The landing looks like a big failure. Miller made it to the shingle, and some of his men do too. They blow up the barbed wire and the mines so they can move on. When a sniper of his squad takes out 1 mortar nest and 1 machinegun nest, is the way free to eliminate the German soldiers.
The next chapter is in the Pentagon. Women are typing telegrams to the relatives of the death soldiers. One typist is typing a telegram with the name ‘Ryan’ from ‘Iowa’ on it. She remembered that see had typed a telegram of another Ryan from Iowa 30 minutes ago. She goes to the box ‘out’ to look if she got right. Then she sees a 3rd telegram of a Ryan. She gets the 3 telegrams and goes to a Colonel and gave him the 3 telegrams. The Colonel goes to the General and they’ve found out there is a 4th Ryan, James F. Ryan. He was dropped with the 101st behind the enemy lines. He needs to come home as quick as possible...

The 3rd chapter is the rest of the book. It starts on the 9th of June. John Miller was called by an Officer. He gave him the mission to save Private Ryan.
The soldiers in the squad are: Captain John Miller, Sergeant Horvath (Sarge) Corporal Upham (the translator), Private Reiben, Jackson (sniper), Wade (Medic), Mellish and Caparzo.
They all get in a jeep and moved up to Neuville. On their way to Neuville they got attacked by an 88. They lost the jeep and some gear. They need to walk and after a while they arrived Neuville. There is another squad and they think they are their relief. But they aren’t. The told them why they are there and the other squad send a runner to the other side of the city, because their squad has been split up by the Germans. On his way back the runner’s got hit and died. Then a French family comes out and they want to give their children to them, because they think they are saver by them. Miller said no but Caparzo grabbed the kid. Then he got shot by a sniper. The specialist Jackson says that the sniper is about 500 meters away from them in the church. The German soldier in the tower was looking through his scope when he suddenly realized another sniper was aiming at him. He quickly fixed the man in his crosshairs, knowing he was already locked in his opposite’s sight. His finger move frantically to the trigger, but it never squeezed. It was too late; the American’s bullet already hit him.
Medic Wade went to Caparzo but he was already death.
The soldiers moved on, to find Private Ryan. Then they met some paratroopers, they ask them if they know a James F. Ryan. They called Ryan and the soldiers thought their journey was over. Miller told the guy that his brothers died in action. The soldier doesn’t get it. What kind of action? His brothers are still at school. Miller realized that he’s got the wrong James F. Ryan. After a while the arrived at a H.Q. They found a soldier who knows James F. Ryan from Iowa. They were missdropped, they missed their drop zone by about 20 miles. Now they know where they can find Private Ryan. They continue their journey...
Suddenly they see 3 death paratroopers in the tall grass. They were shot by a MG-42. There was a Radar station, but that one was broken. Now it was used by German soldiers. Miller makes a plan to take out that Germans. It goes well but their medic Wade died.
They move on again. Then they hear the sound of an engine. They thought it was a tractor, but when they, looked back they saw a German Half-Track. The Half-Track opens fire and Miller and his squad run away. They hide in a foxhole and they return fire. Suddenly a voice said:”Heads down!” The soldiers look at each other, but no one said a word. Than a guy with a bazooka moved in and destroyed the Half-Track. Other soldiers that were with him killed the Germans who fell of the Half-Track. Miller asked the guy’s name. He said: "Private First Class Ryan, Sir.”
The went to Ramelle and Miller told him about his brothers and that he can go to home. But Ryan don’t want it. He got orders. They need to hold the bridge, at all costs. Reiben exploded and told him about the 2 soldiers that died to find him. Ryan asked their names and repeated them a couple of times.
But they all knew the Germans are coming and they made a plan to stop them. Jackson goes in the tower of the church. After a while the Germans approached the Ramelle. Jackson sent signs to Miller. First he made a T with his hands and than he showed 2 fingers. 2 Tiger Tanks. Then he made a P with his hands and showed 2 fingers again. 2 Panzer Tanks.
Most of the men died quickly and after a while there only where 4 soldiers left. Miller, Ryan, Upham and Reiben. Miller got shot twice in his chest. With his last power he tried to stop the approaching Panzer Tank with his .45 pistol. After his last shot the Panzer Tank exploded. He didn’t get it. How could a .45 pistol destroy a Tank? But that came clear very quick. He saw some P-51 Mustangs in the air. They did destroy the Panzer. Upham, Ryan and Reiben came to Miller. Miller was almost death, he looked up at Ryan and said: “Earn this...” and repeated that once. Then he died...

Then the story goes back to the graveyard. The man that fought in the WWII was James Ryan. 74 Years old now. He kneeled down by the grave of Captain John Miller.
His wife said:”Someone you knew?”
Ryan said:”Not really.” He looked at her, and the tears in his eyes made tears form in hers.
”Alice... have I lived a good life? Am I a good man?”
”Jim... what...”
”Just tell me... tell me if you think I’ve earned it.”
She studied him, then tenderly touched his face.
”Oh, yes. Yes, you have.”