Film Star Meets the Local Troops: Gary Sinise Volunteers with USO to Boost Troop Morale

Savannah Morning News ^ | 09/09/2003 | Noelle Phillips

[dixierose]

Soldiers just couldn't resist greeting actor Gary Sinise as Lt. Dan, his character from the movie "Forest Gump." "We had to," Sgt. 1st Class Bridgette Mills said. "He laughed. You've got to say it country, like Forest Gump."

The actor was in Savannah Monday to thank troops from the 3rd Infantry Division for their service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sinise volunteers with the United Service Organizations to visit troops around the world. He'll be at Fort Stewart today to eat with troops and stop by Winn Army Community Hospital.

Sinise never served in the military, saying "I've been in war movies. That's about it."

"It makes me feel like I'm giving back in some way," Sinise said. "I probably get more out of it than they do."

In Sinise's most famous role, he played a bitter Army lieutenant who lost both legs in Vietnam. Sinise was nominated in 1994 for an Academy Award for best supporting actor. His co-star Tom Hanks won an Oscar for the title role.

The movie was filmed in Savannah, and Sinise remembered first coming to Savannah when filming started almost 10 years ago this month.

Soldiers gathered around to make small talk with Sinise, and they let him sit inside a Black Hawk's cockpit.

Mills and Staff Sgt. Cathy Strong were among the first to ask for autographs. Both planned to put them in memory albums from their war experience in Iraq. Their albums have photos from the war along with autographs from other celebrities who visited them overseas.

"It means a lot when they take time out of their busy schedules and have interaction with the troops," Mills said. "They could be out making movies and making millions."

[dixierose]

This is my first post, but I think it's an important one. Not all of Hollywood are jerks! I heard a local radio station interview him this morning and he was humbled that the media showed up. He said that he didn't expect all the media coverage, and did not do this for the publicity...he did this because he appreciated what the troops did for our country. Way to go Gary!

[TheBigB]

Gary Sinise is a great character actor; he should get more recognition than he does. I'd bet that not all of the actors/actresses who do the USO shows are actually in agreement with the efforts in Iraq or Afghanistan, but I respect their efforts for the troops. Gary did a show in Baghdad with Robert De Niro, Alyssa Milano, John Stamos, and Rebecca Romjin-Stamos.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

For something like this, I don't think anybody is going to bite your head off. I've enjoyed most of his movies and I'm pretty sure we all know that there are still a few GOOD apples left in Hollyweird. ;^)

BTW: welcome to FR

[Poohbah]

Gary Sinise was good as Lt. Dan, and I liked him as the grounded astronaut in "Apollo 13." He did a GREAT bad guy in "Ransom."

He's a character actor? I didn't notice that in "The Stand," but, then again, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as The Monster Shouter was QUITE a character...

[Spruce]

It's nice to be reminded that not all actors/actresses are pinko/leftist/hypocrites. Thanks for the post.

[billorites]

"Well, I thought I'd try out my sea legs."

"But you ain't got no legs, Lieutenant Dan. "

[TexasNative2000]

Good post. Welcome aboard.

[dighton]

This is my first post ...

You did fine.

www.sinisefans.org

[Maigrey]

Add 'nuther for the non-selfish brigade. I'll make sure I watch more of his movies.

[meg70]

Lt. Dan bump!

[meg70]

[Abynormal]

You should see Sinise's performance as Harry Truman. Wow!

[MikeD]

Separated at birth? OK, maybe I'm the only one that thinks Gary Sinise looks like Tom Glavine (and vice-versa).

MD

[billorites]

Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is one of the great novellas of the English language.

Gary Sinese and John Malcovich made a wonderful film of this tragic story.

[VOA]

Gary Sinise is a great character actor; he should get more recognition than he does.

My brother said he was good in the lead role of "Wallace", going beyond the
usual stereotype of George Wallace.

I wish I could see that old videotaped version of Sam Shepard's play "True West"
with Sinise as the sane brother and Malkovich (sp?) as the wild, half-crazy brother.
I think I saw it on PBS in the mid 1980s.

[VOA]

You should see Sinise's performance as Harry Truman. Wow!

Thanks for the recommendation...I missed it when it aired.

[VOA]

In Sinise's most famous role, he played a bitter Army lieutenant who lost both legs
in Vietnam. Sinise was nominated in 1994 for an Academy Award for best supporting actor.

He should have gotten some kind of award for sticking it out in that Brian DePalma
dreck "Mission to Mars".

Sinise made it at least watchable on TV.

[cyborg]

give her a southron gentlemen's welcome please... thank you very much

[cyborg]

good post... you should add yourself to the dixie ping list I don't know who is in charge but the southern gentleman I pinged about you should know

[stainlessbanner]

Welcome and thank you for the first post, the first of many!

You can check out FR's Dixie List for the Southern news and events. We also have a ping list - if you are interested send freepmail.