10 Movie Deaths We All Wanted (But Never Got)

Corporal Timothy Upham is one of the eight chosen to recover Private Ryan and bring him home to his family. Rather than for his position within Captain Miller's unit or his combat prowess, Upham is a T/5 brought along for his skills and training as a translator.

It is quickly discovered by the seven members of the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the viewing audience that, not only is Corporal Upham not proficient in warfare, but he is downright spineless.

Upham persuades Miller to spare a German soldier that had participated in the killing of the company medic, Wade, which is viewed as cowardice. Little did any of the characters know how detrimental to their survival this decision would be.

During the final battle - the defence of the bridge in Ramelle - Upham has to opportunity to save Mellish and another soldier from the very German he had convinced Miller to release earlier but fails to do so. In his petrified state, he even lets him stroll past and fatally shoot Miller.

Nobody cares that he finally plucked up the courage to gun down the soldier after the battle, the fact is that Upham is directly responsible for the deaths of three allied soldiers and does not deserve to walk away with his own life.