Gary Sinise Reveals How Iconic Role Led to Lifelong Mission to Support Vets
By Movieguide® Contributor
Actor and musician Gary Sinise explained how one role changed his entire life and gave him a newfound passion.
In 1994, Sinise played the role of Lt. Dan in the hit movie FORREST GUMP. The character was a combat veteran injured in the line of duty during the Vietnam War.
“I got so many letters from Vietnam veterans and people reaching out to me who were moved by the story of Lt. Dan,” Sinise told the AARP. “Many from service members who had been wounded in combat.”
A few weeks after the movie’s release, the Disabled American Veterans organization asked Sinise to come to one of the organization’s national conventions in Chicago.
“When I walked out on stage, there were more than 2,000 wounded veterans in the audience, going back all the way to World War II,” Sinise explained. “They were applauding me for playing Lt. Dan, and I was presented with an award for my ‘hard work’ on the film.”
He continued, “Hard work? Compared with what the people in that ballroom had endured, my job wasn’t close to that. All I’d done was say my lines. Hard work was being far from home, up to your elbows in dust and facing the enemy. Hard work was losing a limb, or worse, and having to carry on.”
In 2011, Gary Sinise founded his own organization to help wounded veterans.
Movieguide® reported on Sinise’s foundation:
“Supporting our nation’s heroes is my lifelong mission and I will continue to serve it faithfully,” Sinise shared. “It’s an honor to be recognized and the best part is that I get to, in turn, shine a light and recognize the true heroes who serve our country.”
Today, the Gary Sinise Foundation provides homes for those wounded in combat.
“Gary Sinise Foundation continues to build homes for our most severely wounded heroes through our R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program,” the actor expressed. “You see, home is where most of us take comfort from the world, but for our severely wounded heroes, life there can be a constant battle. Simple everyday tasks are challenging and frustrating. Our smart homes provide accessibility and a safe haven to help empower these warriors to reclaim their independence.”
One veteran Sinise’s foundation helped was Travis Mills, a U.S. Army staff sergeant whose time in Afghanistan left him as a quadruple amputee.
When Sinise met Mills in 2012, “he wasn’t feeling sorry for himself. His sense of humor was engaging, and I was humbled to be with him. A wonderful, inspirational guy, he was pressing on in his recovery, taking each day as it came, determined to live a good and meaningful life.”
With the Gary Sinise Foundation, Mills and his family were given support they never thought was possible.
“Travis Mills is just one of the many incredible Americans I have had the privilege to meet and support,” Sinise expressed. “He currently resides in Maine with his wife, Kelsey, his daughter, Chloe, and his son, Dax. I am inspired by him and so many like him who show the resilience and sheer grit to prevail, just as Lt. Dan did. I believe we must always look for ways to help our wounded heroes to be able to live the lives they deserve.”
Movieguide® previously reported on why Sinise supports veterans:
Sinise has influenced many with his on-screen performances like FORREST GUMP and faith-based movie I STILL BELIEVE. However, his heart for service has extended beyond acting for many years.
“Back in the 80’s I saw first-hand the struggles our Vietnam veterans, some on my wife’s side of our family, were going through when returning from war to a nation that was divided, and it stuck with me,” Sinise said. “After the war in Vietnam, our veterans did not get the welcome back or the help they so desperately needed following their service…
“I have met too many veterans from that war who are fighting those demons still today, and the lack of support they received upon returning home only amplified this pain. When we began deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq, I felt there was a role for me to play in trying to ensure that today’s veteran would have the support and appreciation they deserved before, during and after the battle.
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