Actor Gary Sinise signs a copy of “Of Mice and Men” for a sailor in the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment facility at Naval Air Station Sigonella in this 2003 photo. Sinise, who starred in an adapted version of “Of Mice and Men,” will begin a tour of bases around Europe on May 19. (Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Actor Gary Sinise — best known for his role as “Lieutenant Dan” in the movie “Forrest Gump” — will entertain troops in England, the Netherlands and Germany this month.
Sinise, along with the Lt. Dan Band, will perform at bases in northern Europe May 19-25 as part of a United Service Organizations and Armed Forces Entertainment tour, USO spokeswoman Erica McClanahan Stone said Monday.
Sinise, who stars in the hit TV series “CSI: New York,” has entertained and visited American troops worldwide numerous times. This will be his 11th USO tour, Stone said.
He was one of the first celebrities to visit troops in Baghdad in June 2003, and last year he visited servicemembers in Singapore, South Korea, Diego Garcia, Kuwait, Qatar, Germany and Italy.
After his second trip to Iraq last year, he co-founded Operation Iraqi Children, which collects donated school supplies for children throughout the war-torn country.
While Sinise is more widely known for screen roles in “Ransom,” “The Green Mile” and “Apollo 13,” he also is a musician. He and Chicago composer Kimo Williams formed the Lt. Dan Band — named after Sinise’s 1994 role in “Forrest Gump.” The group plays mostly benefit gigs and entertains the troops. Sinise is the ensemble’s bassist.
According to the band’s Web site, www.ltdanband.com, the group of Chicago musicians plays “everything from [Bruce] Springsteen to Linkin Park, from Aretha [Franklin] to [Jimi] Hendrix.”
Lt. Dan Band tour dates
Actor Gary Sinise USO/Armed Forces Entertainment European Tour 2005
Actor Gary Sinise signs a copy of “Of Mice and Men” for a sailor in the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment facility at Naval Air Station Sigonella in this 2003 photo. Sinise, who starred in an adapted version of “Of Mice and Men,” will begin a tour of bases around Europe on May 19. (Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
Irma Almodovar and daughters Alanis, 10 months, and Carlina, 6, talk about some of Gary Sinise's favorite movies during an autograph signing opportunity in the dining facility on Cambrai Fritsch Casern Tuesday. (Jessica Inigo / Stars and Stripes)
