Having read the book Band of Brothers back in the mid 1990's and then upon seeing the movie Private Ryan a few years afterwards I was surprised to see no reference in the movie in regards to an actual member of the 501 PIR referenced in the book Band of Brothers. Private Ryan the para who was subject of the movie was based on an actual person by the name of Frederick'Fritz'Niland of Tonawanda, New York who was a member of the 501 PIR. Niland had lost all three of his brothers, who were on active duty with the U.S. military, became casualties in less than three weeks. One brother was lost when his bomber was shot down in late May, another brother was in the 82 Airborne was killed upon landing in Saint Mere Eglise on June 6th, and the 3rd brother was killed upon landing on Utah Beach June 6th.

Fritz Niland was also lost for a few days from the rest of his company after landing far from the designated jump zone. He did remain with the 501 during the Normandy campaign and was pulled from active combat duty when he returned to Britain.

biLL