Private Ryan had nothing to do with it

For those who don't remember, this is D-Day.
June 6th, 1944.
The Longest Day, according to Cornelius Ryan in his splendid book of the same name. (No relation to the mythical Private of the same name.)
If you must see a movie about the event, see "The Longest Day"; a little hokey, as any movie starring John Wayne must be, but far better history than the one starring Tom Hanks, and no computer-generated effects.
For those upset about the lamentable casualties generated by our presence in Iraq, please note that America had as many dead and wounded on this one day in World War Two as we have in two years in Iraq...