4 stars for realism

Rating: 10/10 (5 March 2007)

I have read several critiques of this movie claiming that the opening sequence and continuing doctrine are "unrealistic". These "Experts" claim that the opening scene is far too bloody and doesn't accurately describe what the fighting would have been like, and that the standard operating procedures of the squad are "Hollywood".
I challenge these "experts" to put aside their ideology and bias and look at how a military operation actually works and what is involved.
The Normandy invasion was the largest movement of troops and personal in the history of the world, and that mere accomplishment stands with the building of the Pyramids or the Hanging Gardens. It was a classic case of "being willing to pay the butcher's bill" for a victory. Saying that there were only 10% casualties is accurate, but it is an insult to the bravery of the 34,250 men that landed on the most heavily fortified real estate in the world. And especially to those going in the first wave, where casualties were known to be the highest (in some cases over 80%). 34,250 men don't all step off onto the beach at the same time.
"Saving Private Ryan" opens with the first wave of troop carriers going on to Omaha Beach. The defenders are there waiting for them, and therefore the casualty rates among these units will be high. The opening scene accurately describes this. My grandfather was part of the second wave onto Omaha and his eyewitness testimony confirms this.
The breakdown of US casualties was 1465 dead, 3184 wounded, 1928 missing (presumed dead) and 26 captured. In the Annals of American History, only Antietam ranks higher in American casualties suffered in a single day.
Several Airborne Rangers I've interviewed (including my father & grandfather) remark on the realism of the squad's interaction. These were not people sneaking through a jungle afraid of being ambushed, these were men that knew that surrounding territory was largely abandoned or populated by French that are hoping to be liberated. Virtually any patrol they encounter would be mechanized and be audible miles away.
As for being able to "pick up a radio and contact Ryan's unit to get him out", units in World War II were often out of radio contact for days, occasionally weeks, at a time and had to operate autonomously. There were no GPS satellites and no cell phones. Many soldiers didn't understand French or German. Getting lost was common and a wrong turn would mean hours of delay and confusion. While I can't say the mission made a lot of sense to me from a military point of view, once the mission was ordered this was about the only way it could have been carried out.
And yes, rank insignia was displayed (in muted color) on helmets of officers, just as it is today.