Email   Print   Share By Angela Williams, Army Flier

Facebook Digg Delicious July 12, 2012 | Across DoD

Actor Gary Sinise visits with flight students at Allen Stagefield at Fort Rucker, Ala., July 2 before his scheduled appearance at the installation’s annual Freedom Fest with the Lt. Dan Band. Angela Williams, Army Flier

Gary Sinise greets people at Allen Stagefield at Fort Rucker, Ala. Besides performing a free concert, Sinise met with Soldiers and Families at the installation. Angela Williams, Army Flier

Gary Sinise and Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, Ala., commanding general, turn to the camera inside a Blackhawk helicopter just before flying to Allen Stagefield July 2. Before his scheduled appearance at Freedom Fest, Sinise made a few unexpected visits to Soldiers and Family members. Angela Williams, Army Flier

Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, Ala., commanding general, talks with actor Gary Sinise while leaving Allen Stagefield July 2. Angela Williams, Army Flier

FORT RUCKER, Ala. - Before his scheduled appearance at Fort Rucker’s Freedom Fest, actor Gary Sinise made a few unexpected visits to Soldiers and Family members July 2.

The actor, best known for his portrayal of Lt. Dan in the movie “Forest Gump,” visited the Soldier Service Center, flew simulators at Warrior Hall, watched Helicopter Overwater Survival Training exercises, spoke with air traffic controllers and flight students at Allen Stagefield near Wicksburg and toured the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.

“We’ve got a good show for you and we’re just here to say thank you,” he said to a group of students. “I’ve been wanting to come out and see some of the training, visit the folks on base and make sure you know how much we appreciate what you’re doing. It’s important, and we don’t take it for granted.”

Sinise has worked with various veterans groups since the 1980s, but in the past 10 years, his involvement has greatly increased as he and the Lt. Dan Band travel around the world to perform at various military bases, encourage deployed Soldiers and visit wounded warriors in the hospital.

The band played a free concert at Freedom Fest July 3.

The actor said his involvement with the military has allowed him to do a number of things most people never have a chance to experience, such as flying in F-16 and U-2 aircraft and landing on an aircraft carrier.

He said he hopes his experiences help the American people – especially those who have no personal connection to the military – understand why they should be grateful for those who serve in the armed forces.

“We should be proud, and we should do everything we can to show our appreciation when we can,” Sinise said.

One of the many ways Sinise does this is frequently visiting military hospitals.

“I’m always thinking it’s going to slow down and I’m not going to be visiting as many wounded warriors, yet over this 10-year period, it’s always constant,” he said. “It reminds you how dangerous it is and how many we have out there who are sacrificing each and every day and getting hurt.”

He said he wants to continue to remind people about the thousands of Soldiers who are still in harm’s way.

“If I can do something to help keep them strong,” he said, “it’s a good feeling.”

During his visit to Allen Stagefield July 2, Sinise watched students practice different maneuvers from the tower, then visited with a group of students and asked questions about some of the training he had witnessed.

“What was it like the first time you got in a helicopter?” he asked.

“It was exciting not to actually kill yourself,” one student quickly replied.

Another student explained that there was more to flying a helicopter than she imagined before she started training.

“There’s so much going on at once,” she said. “It’s really hard, but it’s a rewarding experience for me.”

After Sinise spoke with the students, Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general, praised the actor’s work, calling him “a great American.”

“He does this out of the goodness of his heart,” Crutchfield said, adding that Sinise had personally done a lot of work to make the return trip to Fort Rucker a reality.

“I think that says a lot about him as an American, as a man, as a friend and about you as our community,” Crutchfield said, noting how lucky Fort Rucker was to have Sinise visit, perform and support Soldiers and their Families.