Technical Sergeant Mike Horvath
Having served previously with the Rangers in North Africa (Kasserine Pass) and Italy (Anzio) alongside Captain Miller, Technical Sergeant Mike Horvath (Tom Sizemore) was a member of Company C, 2nd Ranger Battalion on June 6th, 1944. Although Miller relied heavily on Horvath in leading the company, Horvath knew virtually nothing about his captain's personal life or history. Following Company C's attack on Omaha Beach, Miller was assigned to lead a squad in search of Private James Ryan, a paratrooper whose brothers had all been killed in combat.
During the search for Private Ryan the squad made an ill-advised attack on a German machine gun position, during which Medic Wade was killed. Private Reiben, fed-up with the mission, the loss of Wade and Private Caparzo, and the release of a German prisoner, confronted Miller. Horvath was forced to draw his sidearm when Reiben refused to follow orders and indicated that he would no longer participate in the search. Miller interrupted the confrontation by revealing his occupation, that of a school teacher. Both Horvath and Reiben were surprised to learn of Miller's background, and Reiben silently rejoined the squad and helped them bury Wade.
Private Ryan was eventually found in the bombed-out ruins of the village of Ramelle, but the young man refused to abandon his fellow paratroopers in defending a bridge against an expected German attack. Asked for his thoughts, Horvath commented that saving Private Ryan might be a means of producing something positive from a negative situation. In the ensuing battle Private Ryan's life was spared, but most of Ramelle's defenders, including Horvath, were killed. Horvath was shot in the back while retreating to a fallback position.
