He means for Ryan to live his life to the fullest out of respect for those who sacrificed their lives to get him home.
Captain Miller said "Earn this" to Private Ryan, meaning for Private Ryan to live a good and productive life given that six of the eight men, including Captain Miller, died so that he may live.
Saving Private Ryan
Matt Damon played the role of Private James Francis Ryan.matt damon
When Captain Miller told Ryan to "earn this," he meant that Ryan (having possibly been saved from death by the actions of the platoon) had a duty to live his life in an upright, moral, and meaningful way. Ryan is not certain that he has done so, but it is suggested very strongly that he has, out of respect for the bravery and sacrifice of the men whose mission was to bring him home.
No. Hank's character, Captain John H. Miller, died at the end. His eyes remained open, but one of his soldiers looked down to see his hand had stopped trembling. The soldier reached into Miller's (Hanks') pocket to take his papers for safe keeping.
Captain Miller made a wise decision by letting the German soldier go because this avoided revenge attacks from the other side.
There is Captain Miller, James Ryan, Mike Horvath, Richard Rieben, Daniel Jackson, Stanley Mellish, Adrian Caparzo, Irwin Wade, Timothy P. Upham, Fred Hamill, Sgt. Hill, Lt. Col. Anderson, and Cpl. Henderson.
No Private James Francis Ryan is fictional, however there was a Private James Ryan from Iowa. The story was adapted from an incident recorded by historian Stephen E. Ambrose. The story was based on actual events but fictional characters were used.
Saving Private Ryan's protagonist is Tom Hanks, who plays John H. Miller.
Tom Hanks, playing Captain John H. Miller.
$300!!
sgt miller