After the bloody D-Day, Captain John Miller of the 2nd Rangers is assigned to take his troop and find Private James Ryan because his three brothers had died in combat, and he was able to go home to his mother. Miller goes because if he saves him, he gets to go home and so do all of the other privates in his troop.
After going through several battles and deaths, Ryan is found. Another battle is fought and, basically, Ryan goes home.
*Captain John Miller.....Tom Hanks
Private James Ryan.......Matt Damon
Private Reiben...........Edward Burns
*Sgt. Horvath............Tom Sizemore
Corporal Upham...........Jeremy Davies
*Private Caparzo.........Vin Diesel
*Private Mellish.........Adam Goldberg
*Private Jackson.........Barry Pepper
*Medic Wade..............Giovanni Ribisi
Captain Hammel...........Ted Danson
*Lt. Col. Anderson.......Dennies Farina
Sgt. Hill................Paul Giamattio
*Corporal Henderson......Max Martini
*Captured German.........Joerg Stadler
*who dies in the movie