Real soldiers called up for Spielberg film

Steven Spielberg paid tribute to US troops in his new sci-fi epic War of the Worlds by inviting a whole battalion to appear in the film.

The movie mogul asked soldiers stationed at Fort Drum in New York to appear in his new movie - to give scenes of soldiers attacking alien invaders a little authenticity.

And, as a thank you for their help, Spielberg arranged a special screening for the 10th Mountain Division troops - who have serviced in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia - at their army base on Monday night.

Fort Drum public affairs officer LT Col Paul Fitzpatrick says: "Steven Spielberg wanted real soldiers for the scenes and this is a reward to soldiers who have been among our best."

It isn't the first time members of the 10th Mountain Division have been depicted on the big screen - the division's historic rescue of soldiers in Somalia in 1993 was chronicled in the film Black Hawk Down.