The American Radioman was a minor character in Saving Private Ryan. He was a sailor on detached duty with a USN shore party. His primary objective would have been to act as a forward observer to direct naval artillery fire in support of the landings. He took part in the invasion of Omaha Beach on D-day, during World War Two. He was killed by a mortar shell shortly after Captain Miller told him that no DD tanks had made it ashore and that Dog One was not open. His radio was also destroyed despite Miller trying to use it to relay the message himself.