<P> In the present day , an elderly veteran visits the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial with his family . Upon seeing one particular grave , he falls to his knees overcome with emotion . The scene then shifts to the morning of June 6 , 1944 , as American soldiers land on Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion . They suffer heavy losses in assaulting German positions defended by artillery and machine guns . Captain John H. Miller of the 2nd Ranger Battalion assembles a group to penetrate the German defenses , leading to a breakout from the beach . Elsewhere on the beach , a dead soldier is face down in the bloody surf ; his pack is stenciled Ryan , S . </P>
<P> In the present day , an elderly veteran visits the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial with his family . Upon seeing one particular grave , he falls to his knees overcome with emotion . The scene then shifts to the morning of June 6 , 1944 , as American soldiers land on Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion . They suffer heavy losses in assaulting German positions defended by artillery and machine guns . Captain John H. Miller of the 2nd Ranger Battalion assembles a group to penetrate the German defenses , leading to a breakout from the beach . Elsewhere on the beach , a dead soldier is face down in the bloody surf ; his pack is stenciled Ryan , S . </P>
who are they fighting in saving private ryan
who are they fighting in saving private ryan
German defenses
German defenses