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L have a letter herewritten a long time ago to a Mrs Bixby in BostonSo bear with me''Dear Madam''l have been shown in the files of the War Department''a statement of the Adjutant General of
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Saving Private Ryan

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General...

Gen. George C. Marshall:I have a letter here, written a long time ago, to a Mrs. Bixby in Boston. So bear with me. "Dear Madam: I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln."

Full Transcript

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l have a letter here
00:00:04.205 --> 00:00:08.003
written a long time ago to a Mrs Bixby in Boston
00:00:08.422 --> 00:00:10.503
So bear with me
00:00:13.155 --> 00:00:14.573
''Dear Madam
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''l have been shown in the files of the War Department
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''a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts
00:00:22.044 --> 00:00:25.335
''that you are the mother of five
00:00:27.423 --> 00:00:30.956
''sons who died gloriously on the field of battle
00:00:34.103 --> 00:00:39.001
''l feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine
00:00:39.215 --> 00:00:42.209
''that would attempt to beguile you from the grief
00:00:42.335 --> 00:00:46.305
''of a loss so overwhelming
00:00:46.431 --> 00:00:48.888
''But l cannot refrain from tendering to you
00:00:49.003 --> 00:00:52.314
''the consolation that may be found
00:00:52.441 --> 00:00:56.951
''in the thanks of the republic they died to save
00:01:00.271 --> 00:01:02.267
''l pray that Our Heavenly Father
00:01:02.392 --> 00:01:05.027
''may assuage the anguish of your bereavement
00:01:05.001 --> 00:01:09.999
''and leave only the cherished memory of the loved lost
00:01:09.855 --> 00:01:12.001
''and the solemn pride that must be yours
00:01:12.624 --> 00:01:14.001
''to have laid so costly a sacrifice
00:01:15.002 --> 00:01:16.878
''upon the altar of freedom
00:01:17.001 --> 00:01:20.328
''Yours very sincerely and respectfully
00:01:20.453 --> 00:01:21.824
''Abraham Lincoln ''
Available in 10 languages
Duration
83 seconds
Views
760
Timestamp in Movie
00:34:19
Uploaded
Feb 09, 2026
Genres
drama, war
Production
DreamWorks Pictures,Paramount Pictures,Amblin Entertainment,Mutual Film Company

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Movie Summary

Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.

Actors

Matt Damon
Private Ryan
Matt Damon
''l feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine ''that would attempt to beguile you from the grief ''of a loss so overwhelming. - Saving Private Ryan 00:25
''l feel how weak and fruitless must be any words...
''l pray that Our Heavenly Father ''may assuage the anguish of your bereavement ''and leave only the cherished memory of the loved lost... - Saving Private Ryan 00:24
''l pray that Our Heavenly Father ''may...
We expected 32 tanks to float to the beach. Twenty-seven didn't make it. - Saving Private Ryan 00:23
We expected 32 tanks to float to the beach. Twenty-seven did...
That boy is alive. - Saving Private Ryan 00:14
That boy is alive.
We expected 32 tanks, 27 didn't make it. - Saving Private Ryan 00:25
We expected 32 tanks, 27 didn't make it.
What about our casualtiesWellthe figureswere 35 deadtimes two woundedThey just didn't wanna give up those 88slt was tough that's why you got itYes sirJohnl've got another one for youYes sir Straight from the top - Saving Private Ryan 00:32
What about our casualtiesWellthe figureswere 35 deadtimes...
L've got another one for you. - Saving Private Ryan 00:08
L've got another one for you.
We're taking a squad to Neuville on a public relations missionYou leading a squadSome Private lost three brothers and got a ticket homeHow come NeuvilleThey think he's part of all those airborne misdropslt won't be easy finding one particular soldierLike - Saving Private Ryan 01:10
We're taking a squad to Neuville on a public relations...
Like finding a needle in a stack of needles - Saving Private Ryan 00:05
Like finding a needle in a stack of needles
Yes, sir. - Saving Private Ryan 00:27
Yes, sir.
Yes Corporal Sir a LOT of GermansYou have a problem with that CorporalNo l've never been in combat l make maps translatel need someone who speaks French and GermanMy guys were killedBut l haven't held a weapon since training sirDid you fire the weapon Yes - Saving Private Ryan 00:27
Yes Corporal Sir a LOT of GermansYou have a problem with...
Thank you very much, sir. - Saving Private Ryan 00:09
Thank you very much, sir.
Look on the bright side, Corporal. - Saving Private Ryan 00:15
Look on the bright side, Corporal.
You want your head blown off? - Saving Private Ryan 00:13
You want your head blown off?
Caparzo is itHey drop dead CorporalGot youAnd saluting the captain makes him a target for GermansSo don't do it especially when l'm next to him - Saving Private Ryan 00:14
Caparzo is itHey drop dead CorporalGot youAnd saluting the...
You wanna explain the math of this to meWhy risk the lives of the eight of us to save one guy20 degrees Anybody wanna answerReiben think about the poor bastard's motherl got a mother all rightl mean you got a mother Sarge has got a motherShit l bet even - Saving Private Ryan 00:51
You wanna explain the math of this to meWhy risk the lives...
What's ''fubar''Oh it's German YeahNever heard of that - Saving Private Ryan 00:09
What's ''fubar''Oh it's German...
Sirl have an opinion on this matterWell by all means share it with the squadWell from my way of thinking sirthis entire mission is a serious misallocationof valuable military resourcesYeah Go onWell it seems to me sirthat God made me a fine instrument of - Saving Private Ryan 01:33
Sirl have an opinion on this matterWell by all means share...
Thunder! - Saving Private Ryan 00:09
Thunder!
You're a welcome sight. - Saving Private Ryan 00:33
You're a welcome sight.