The men who fought World War II sacrificed not only their lives, but their relationships with those they left behind as well. However, they added to the richness of their fleeting lives the relationships that developed among them. In order to survive as long as possible they were to trust, cover, and protect each other. In a way, each unit developed a new family comprised of members who sacrificed everything for the sake of a safe world.

"Saving Private Ryan" comes out to be the bravest movie of all times. It goes beyond the usual scenario often seen in war movies. From the very beginning, it shows a perfect introduction to a movie about fragility and fortitude of compassion in wartime when the American flag flies above the vast cemetery honoring the fallen Americans. Then, after a prologue it flashes back to the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach, where many of the soldiers off the boats are instantly and agonizingly slaughtered without the opportunity to defend themselves and each other. This opening sequence, in which hundreds of men are slayed and pulverized, is perhaps the most wrenching battle scene ever filmed.

The army unit led by Captain Miller (Tom Hanks), had over one hundred men, of which including Captain Miller, only eight survived. Loved ones and parents are left suffering at home. In the crucible of fire at Omaha Beach, the soldiers think about their loved ones. Captain Miller’s right hand trembles while thinking about his wife, and if she will even recognize him if he ever makes it back home. He is trembling as if he is on the verge of breakdown. However, over one hundred men depend on Captain Miller and therefore, his fears and emotions are to be controlled. Every soldier, at one point or another, thinks about their family, friends, or lovers left behind. They all hope to come home alive and sustain their various relationships.

In a coordinated effort, Captain Miller and his seven men storm the beach and after deploying Private Jackson, who is amazingly accurate, they take out the enemy and therefore secure the beach for the allies who are to follow later. Captain Miller makes it clear that it is their job to ensure that the Americans (and allies) who will follow survive. By this action, Captain Miller shows that the safety of others depend on his unit’s actions. For the first time, Captain Miller and his unit have the opportunity to see the corpse-strewn expanse of Omaha Beach. One of the fallen soldiers, washed up on the beach, is named Ryan.

During World War II, the families of fallen soldiers were notified via telegram about losing their loved ones. Because of the harshness of the war and the losses already sustained, the government and the men in charge in Washington did care for their soldiers and their families. When they find out that three of Mrs. Ryan’s sons were already dead, they decide to bring back her last son, unharmed. The decision to do so was left to the Chief of Staff, who reads a letter Abraham Lincoln sent to a mother who had lost five sons on a previous war. This letter is the determining factor in changing Captain Miller and his unit’s orders to save Private Ryan.

There is a natural relationship between mothers and sons that is highlighted in this movie, the motherly love longing for the safe return of at least one of her sons and the devastation of loosing a child is heart breaking. After the loss of three sons in the war, the fourth’s safe return could only mend her bleeding heart. After receiving three different telegrams the pain she suffered could be nothing short of dispair and loss.

As an act of mercy to Mrs. Ryan, the Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall, orders Captain Miller to take his unit behind German lines and somehow locate and bring to safety Private James Francis Ryan, whose whereabouts are unknown. After receiving his new orders, Captain Miller adds to his unit a translator who he believes will help his unit survive. Because Captain Miller’s unit depends and protects each other, the translator is not received by the rest of the unit willingly. As a matter of fact it takes the unit a while to accept him. Unfortunately for the unit, the translator is a deadly choice.

As Captain Miller’s unit goes deeper into Normandy and start losing their men, they start questioning the orders they have been given. It is difficult for them to understand why they are to sacrifice their lives and the possibility of never seeing their loved ones again for the sake of one person who may not be worth losing their lives for. As time progresses, and the mission becomes more difficult, the relationship among them suffers set-backs. It gets to the point of mutiny.

By the behavior of Captain Miller’s unit, and the two other units they encountered, it becomes obvious that all the American units are as dependent on each other as Captain Miller’s. This unit is close and caring because they know that they are not only fighting the same war and have the same purpose, but they depend on each other for survival. It is implied that the unit has been together for a while and the only new addition to it is the translator. An example of their dedication to each other is seen when their friends get shot. They all do their best to save the injured, but the war was so terrible that they could not save every injured man.

One of the strongest relationship that develops, is that of camaraderie. The soldiers are connected among themselves. They hold together as a family. One scene that exemplifies their family connections is when Captain Miller is lamenting about the number of fellow soldiers that have died in his unit. Behind him, to his left, a soldier is copying a blood-soaked letter of one of their dead friends. The fallen soldier did not have the opportunity to send the letter to his parents, and as an act of compassion, the soldier sitting to Captain Miller’s left is rewriting the letter.

One by one the men sent to save Ryan lose their lives and when they find Private Ryan, they also find that even though Ryan loved his brothers, he is not about to abandon his "new family." After Ryan makes it clear that he will not go home until the area his unit is defending is secured, Captain Miller and his unit realize that their mission is not just about saving one life anymore, but to save thousands of lives. With the exception of one soldier, the translator, sacrifice and honor bind them forever.

After all they go through, the respect and admiration for each other grows, making very difficult for the survivors to let go of the past. What is learned in this movie about relationship goes beyond human comprehension. At time of desperation, in the face of atrocity, loneliness and death, the human spirit prevails and the memories of those who sacrificed it all are forever embedded in our minds.