He won't like the title but Gary Sinise is an American hero in his own right. Our treatment of Viet Nam veterans, at the time, was despicable. The media and entertainment industry can take a great deal of the blame along with the Communist professors on our college campuses at the time who poisoned the minds of impressionable students--I know--I witnessed it, I was on a conservative campus at Ole Miss at the time but we had our share of left-wing loons.
As luck would have it Gary was cast as the character Lt. Dan in the movie Forrest Gump that was shot here and in Beaufort about 25 years ago. The character in the film is a Viet Nam vet who'd lost his legs in the battle and had an industrial-strength case of PTSD and Gump saves his life and he turns that life around. Unbeknownst to Sinise at the time his character touched the collective hearts of tens of thousands of Viet Nam veterans who could completely identify with that character. Suddenly he found himself being invited to veterans events by the American Legion and other military organizations. When the crowds went wild as he was introduced touched him to his soul.
When 9-11 hit, Gary knew what had to be done to thank those serving now and formed the Lt. Dan Band. He's been here on numerous occasions with the band and just to boost the morale of the soldiers here. This weekend is no exception. He'll be at Hunter Army Airfield buying the soldiers lunch and then performing tonight (as I write this) at Fort Stewart. Gary is the real deal and his autobiography Grateful American says it all. Gary is the REAL DEAL as he visits and encourages wounded military personnel and their families. Watch and enjoy--we need a lot more like him and a more grateful media who owe their First Amendment rights to those who put their lives on the line to protect it. Enjoy and God bless this wonderful American.