Sergeant Frederick "Fritz" Niland (1920–1983), Company H, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Fritz fought with the 501st through the first few days of the Normandy campaign. Several days following D-Day, Fritz had gone to the 82nd Airborne Division to see his brother, Bob. Once he arrived at division, he was informed that Bob had been killed on D-Day. Fritz was shipped back to England, and, finally, to the U.S. where he served as an MP in New York until the completion of the war. Fritz was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. Fritz died in 1983 in San Francisco at the age of 63.
Private James Ryan in Saving Private Ryan is loosely based on Fritz Niland.
Private James Ryan in Saving Private Ryan is loosely based on Fritz Niland.
Sergeant Frederick "Fritz" Niland (1920–1983), Company H, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Fritz fought with the 501st through the first few days of the Normandy campaign. Several days following D-Day, Fritz had gone to the 82nd Airborne Division to see his brother, Bob. Once he arrived at division, he was informed that Bob had been killed on D-Day. Fritz was shipped back to England, and, finally, to the U.S. where he served as an MP in New York until the completion of the war. Fritz was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. Fritz died in 1983 in San Francisco at the age of 63.
Private James Ryan in Saving Private Ryan is loosely based on Fritz Niland.
Private James Ryan in Saving Private Ryan is loosely based on Fritz Niland.
Inscription
SGT
US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
