I hate and love Saving Private Ryan

I hate and love Saving Private Ryan.

I love the movie, it’s one of the greatest movies ever created. I rewatch it often. It’s the closest depiction of combat ever created and hopefully, the closest most of those of us who watch the movie will ever have to come.

It inspired a generation of historians to pursue the Second World War, created the inspiration for dozens of my favorite video games and movies, and brought the ugly truths of war into the homes of thousands. But as much I as love Saving Private Ryan, I hate it.

It shaped how millions saw the war and focused their attention on just D-Day and the associated units. Other divisions, those who were not present on Omaha beach that day, were left in the lurch.

Any history enthusiast could tell you the ins and outs of the D-Day Invasion, but what about Mortain, Montelimar, Colmar, or any other such battles not to mention entirely different theaters of war such as the Eastern Front or Burma.

We must not overlook these battles, fronts, theaters, etc which in are no less significant than D-Day and the Western Front.

Most essentially, we can’t write off or overlook the “smaller” “less significant” divisions that may of not of been on Omaha Beach. Ever serviceman mattered, and it’s a crime anyone of them should be forgotten.

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A great story about a little bit of 'humanity' during a terrible war.

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A grieving family has paid tribute to their “simply irreplaceable” teenager with "a heart full of gold" who died in a reservoir this week.

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