The Niland Brothers were a group of four American brothers serving in the military during World War II. Of the four, two survived the war, but for a time it was believed that only Frederick Niland had survived. Frederick was sent back to the States to complete his service, when it was learned that his brother Edward, presumed dead, was actually in a Japanese POW camp in Burma. Steven Spielberg's film Saving Private Ryan is loosely based on his story. Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... A Prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of persons captured by the enemy in time of war. ... Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg, KBE (born December 18, 1946 in Cincinnati) is an American film director. ... Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 Academy Award winning film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat. ...

The four brothers were:

• Sergeant Frederick Niland, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne
• Technical Sergeant Robert Niland, Company D, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne (KIA June 6, 1944 in Normandy)
• Lieutenant Preston Niland, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry (KIA June 7, 1944)
• Technical Sergeant Edward Niland, pilot US Army Airforce

See also

• Sullivan brothers
• Sole Survivor Policy

The brothers on board Juneau; from l to r, Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison and George Sullivan The Sullivan brothers were five siblings who all died during the same incident in World War II, the sinking of the light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52), the vessel on which they all served. ...

References

• Saving Private Ryan Online Encyclopedia
• "Saving Private Ryan" a real-life drama" by Ron Churchill, University of Buffalo Reporter