nicknamed "Steamboat Willie", ordering that he surrender to the next Allied patrol. Frustrated, Reiben threatens to desert, leading to a standoff between the men that Miller defuses by revealing his civilian background as a teacher and baseball coach, which he has always refused to disclose. Miller muses that people often guessed his career before he became a soldier, while his men could not, implying that war had changed him. He worries whether he is still the man he was or that his wife will recognize him. In Ramelle, Miller's detachment finds Ryan and informs him of their mission, but Ryan refuses to abandon his post or his fellow soldiers, believing he does not deserve to go home more than anyone else. Horvath convinces Miller that saving Ryan might be the only truly decent thing they can accomplish during the war. Miller takes command of Ryan's unofficial group as the only officer present and prepares the soldiers for a German assault. Jackson and Horvath are killed, and Upham stands paralyzed with fear as Mellish is stabbed to death. Steamboat Willie returns and shoots Miller before reinforcements arrive to defeat the Germans. Upham confronts Willie who attempts to surrender again; now aware of the difficult choices soldiers face during war, Upham kills Willie. Upham and Reiben observe as the mortally wounded Miller tells Ryan to earn the sacrifices made to send him home. Decades later, an elderly Ryan and his family visits Miller's grave at the Normandy Cemetery. Ryan expresses that he remembers Miller's words every day, lived his life the best he could, and hopes he has earned their sacrifices. Cast Tom Hanks as John H. Miller: A determined U.S captain suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder Edward Burns as Richard Reiben: A rebellious soldier Tom Sizemore as Mike Horvath: Miller's long-time friend and second-in-command Jeremy Davies as Timothy Upham: A staff assistant lacking any combat experience, recruited by Miller as a French and German interpreter Vin Diesel as Adrian Caparzo: A battle-hardened and compassionate soldier Adam Goldberg as Stanley "Fish" Mellish: A wisecracking Jewish trooper, and Caparzo's close friend Barry Pepper as Daniel Jackson: A religious sniper Giovanni Ribisi as Irwin Wade: The team's diligent and caring combat medic Matt Damon as James Francis Ryan: A young soldier from Iowa Dennis Farina as Walter Anderson: An American officer who tasks Miller with finding Ryan Ted Danson as Fred Hamill: The captain