The sun shines on the grand opening of the brand new local Iowa VFW. Private Reiben (Ed Burns) having finally tracked down that little shit that cost his friends their lives, squarely lands a punch in his face. Private Ryan (Matt Damon) instinctively returns his volley. In the aftermath of broken furniture and glass, wasted alcohol, injured bystanders, blood, tears, and yes sweat; the two men have it out. In a heap Ryan realizes who he has been fighting, and is told the story of how many lives it took to save his.
Or, maybe nothing that hackneyed happened. Maybe, in the years between the end of World War II and Ryan finally being able to take that trip to Europe with his family (What is so wrong with being into big tits?); Reiber ran into him, and told the story. Ryan thought it a good gesture to visit the white crosses of the men who saved him and Spielberg thought it a good idea for his little war movie.