Brothers who inspired ‘Saving Private Ryan’ honored in France

(NEXSTAR) – At the Normandy American Cemetery in France, the brothers who inspired the movie “Saving Private Ryan” rest alongside soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

“I’m sorry to tell you that Private Ryan did not exist, but the story is based on the true story of the Niland brothers,” historian Anthony Folquier said.

Preston, Robert, Frederick “Fritz” and Edward Niland all fought in World War II. Robert and Preston were both killed in the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Although his family received a letter stating that he had been killed in action, Edward Niland survived after being held as a prisoner of war in the Pacific Theater. His family would not find this out until after the war ended.

The basis of the movie pulls from the truthful account of the effort to locate Fritz Niland and prevent the family from presumably losing all Niland brothers in the war. When Fritz went to join the 82nd Airborne Division nine days after the invasion, they informed him of his brothers’ deaths and sent Fritz home.

Edward had one wish when his son, Pete, traveled to Normandy years later.

“And the only thing my father asked me to do was put some flowers on his brothers’ grave sites,” Pete Niland said.

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