These expertise help Spielberg create the best war movie possible. A web site compared historical video footage of the invasion to the movie and felt the movie was more favorable. Moreover they suspect that Ambrose helped to weave in bits and pieces of historical testimonials into the filming process. One of the first things I researched was if there was an actual Private Ryan. I found out that the plot was bases on two groups of brothers, The Sullivans and the Nilands. The Sullivans all joined the Navy in 1941 and, against recommendations, insisted on serving on the same ship. On November 13, 1942, during the battle of Guadalcanal, their vessel, the USS Juneau, was hit by a Japanese torpedo. According to the website, the "Sullivans' mother, Alleta and Loughren's great-grandmother - awoke to find her living room in Waterloo, Iowa, filled with family and three naval officers, who stood when Mrs. Sullivan entered the room. "I have some news about your boys," one of the officers began, and Thomas Sullivan, the boys' father, asked, "Which one?" The answer: "All of them." According to the research four of the brothers died in the explosion with 550 other crewman, the oldest, George, was thrown into the water with 140 other survivors of the initial explosion. By the time rescuers arrived, more than a week later, all but 10 sailors - floating on life rafts and debris - had died of exposure or in shark attacks. This website claimed that "George spent four days calling for his brothers before deciding - in his delirium - to swim off into the shark-infested water." "You and your husband have given a lesson in great courage to the whole country," wrote first lady Eleanor Roosevelt in a condolence letter that was later published in newspapers. The Navy knowing how important this Sullivan story was, they decided in late 1943 to name one of its destroyers the USS The Sullivans and asked Alleta Sullivan to christen it.
