‘Private Ryan’ Discussions

The Aug. 6 article that discussed the movie “Saving Private Ryan” and the apparent disconnect between World War II veterans and the baby boomer generation requires further comment. During WWII, the U.S. had about 16 million men under arms. Some, as depicted in the Ryan movie, stormed the beaches at Normandy. Some went over the sea wall at Tinian, in the face of Japanese bullets raking anything that showed above the wall. Some suffered in the stinking trenches at Okinawa. Some slogged through the mud in Germany. Some watched in horror as kamikaze pilots drove their aircraft into U.S. ships. Some manned the desks and supported the supply lines that were necessary for such a gigantic war effort.

Those of us who were lucky to come home wanted to put all this behind us and get on with our lives. Our greatest hope was that our children would not have to be exposed to the horror of war. We did not dwell on the war because so many shared the same experiences.

We do not feel greatly disappointed because people today have forgotten and lack patriotism. We are, however, concerned about the future of America because the lessons of WWII are ignored. We owe a debt of gratitude to Steven Spielberg for making this movie, which may cause baby boomers to think about the sacrifices of their parents.

SION COLVIN

Woodland Hills