Report: Real-life ‘Private Ryan’ ignored by stars of war movie
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, May 8, 2008
The stars of “Saving Private Ryan” have declined to support legislation that parallels their hit film, according to The Hill, a daily newspaper that reports on Congress.
Hollywood’s top GIs have spurned an effort by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., to help real soldiers who have lost family members in Iraq and Afghanistan, the paper noted. These soldiers returned home under the “sole survivor” policy, which was a storyline in the 1998 Oscar-winning film.
In the movie, a troop of soldiers led by Tom Hanks’ character risks their lives to save Private Ryan (Matt Damon), whose three brothers have all been killed in World War II.
Nunes had a similar situation in his district. According to the report, after former Army Spc. Jason Hubbard lost his two brothers in Iraq, the military:
So far, however, Hanks, Damon, director Steven Spielberg and writer Robert Rodat have brushed aside attempts to enlist their support, The Hill reported.
go here for more of this
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54618
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, May 8, 2008
The stars of “Saving Private Ryan” have declined to support legislation that parallels their hit film, according to The Hill, a daily newspaper that reports on Congress.
Hollywood’s top GIs have spurned an effort by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., to help real soldiers who have lost family members in Iraq and Afghanistan, the paper noted. These soldiers returned home under the “sole survivor” policy, which was a storyline in the 1998 Oscar-winning film.
In the movie, a troop of soldiers led by Tom Hanks’ character risks their lives to save Private Ryan (Matt Damon), whose three brothers have all been killed in World War II.
Nunes had a similar situation in his district. According to the report, after former Army Spc. Jason Hubbard lost his two brothers in Iraq, the military:
would not provide the customary support for a veteran transitioning to civilian life;
denied him GI bill benefits;
refused to provide transitional health care;
and ordered him to repay a portion of his enlistment bonus.
So far, however, Hanks, Damon, director Steven Spielberg and writer Robert Rodat have brushed aside attempts to enlist their support, The Hill reported.
go here for more of this
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54618
