Daniel Ryan

Private First Class Daniel Ryan was an unseen, mentioned character in Saving Private Ryan. He was the eldest brother of James Ryan.

Biography
Daniel lived in Payton, Iowa with his three brothers, Sean Ryan, Peter Ryan, and James Ryan, and mother Mrs. Margaret Ryan.

It was implied that he had a girlfriend named Alice Jardine. In 1942, he was in the family's barn with her, and was about to make love with her, when his brothers came in. Sean yelled "Danny don't do it, you're a young man!" which startled Alice, causing her to run into the wall, knocking her out. Daniel got really mad, and tried hitting Sean with a shovel, but it hit a lantern, causing the barn to nearly catch on fire.

The next day, Daniel enlisted in the Army, and was originally assigned to a Company with his brothers in Able Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, but he was later transferred to a different Division. He was unseen during the movie but was reported to have been killed in New Guinea a week prior to D-day.

The New Guinea Campaign of the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. During period, numerous battles were waged between American and Allied forces and Japanese forces. It is left unknown as to which operation Daniel was apart of leading up to his death, but it is possible is that he may have been fighting in the Battle of Lone Tree Hill, the name given to a major battle that took place in Dutch New Guinea between American and Japanese forces. The Battle of Lone Tree Hill was fought over a period of May 17 to September 2nd of 1944, notably several months after the landings at Normandy. This would mean that Daniel was probably assigned to the 158th Regimental Combat Team of the U.S Army, the unit that was at the forefront of this battle.

It is unknown where Daniel Ryan's final resting place is following the war, but it is likely he was buried in a war cemetery in New Guinea.