Private Adrian Caparzo
Known as "Carpy" to his friend Private Mellish, Private Adrian Caparzo (Vin Diesel) was the first member of Captain Miller's makeshift Ranger squad to be killed in the search for Private James Ryan.
While looking for Ryan in the shattered streets of the village of Neuville, Caparzo unwisely tried to rescue a young French girl. While arguing with Miller about what to do with the girl, Caparzo was shot by a German sniper. His comrades were unable to go to his rescue because of the sniper, and Caparzo bled to death.
A V-Mail letter that he had been writing to his father in New York was retrieved from his body by medic Wade, who recopied the crumpled and bloody document. After Wade's death the letter was taken by Captain Miller, who was also killed. Private Reiben, the only squad member to survive, took the letter from Miller's body and was presumably able to send it on to Caparzo's father.
