JALALABAD, Afghanistan -- One character's name kept coming up during actor Gary Sinise's recent trip to Jalalabad Airfield in eastern Afghanistan where he paid a visit to the troops who were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.Sinise may be arguably one of the greatest and most versatile actors of our generation, having played in award-winning movie roles that range from George in "Of Mice and Men" - which he also directed - to his Broadway role as Randall P. McMurphy in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" to his current television role as Detective Mac Taylor in "CSI: New York."But among members of the military, there is one role that stands out above all his others - Sinise's Oscar-nominated portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in 1994's "Forrest Gump," according to Sinise, where ever he visits service members, "They always call me Lieutenant Dan. They just can't help it.""All right!" exclaimed Pfc. William Cheatham, a field radio operator, Communications Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, after having his photograph taken with Sinise - and an autograph. "My family back home is never going to believe I met Lieutenant Dan. He is such a great actor. I can't believe he came all the way out here to Afghanistan to visit the Marines," added the Paducah, Ky., native.What Cheatham and many others might not have been aware of at the time, however, is that traveling into combat zones to meet with the troops is old hat for Sinise. He is perhaps the most prolific celebrity when it comes to visiting service members on the front lines of the Global War on Terrorism, in addition to constantly visiting with service members in support roles back in the states."I make as many trips as I can fit in, because I think it is important that you folks in the military know that people are out there backing you up and doing what we can to support you," said Sinise, a native of Highland Park, Ill., and a founding member of Chicago's influential Steppenwolf Theater Company at 19. "Every chance I get, I just call up the USO and ask them, 'Where do you want me to go?'"It seems that Sinise may need a hotline. In addition to his visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, Sinise has also visited troops overseas in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Italy, and Diego Garcia.All told, Sinise has visited Afghanistan 18 times with the USO. He was also a part of the USO's first tour to Baghdad in June of 2003, according to a USO press release. When he is not spending time with troops in combat zones, Sinise can usually be found visiting wounded combat vets at both Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and at the National Navy Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. And that doesn't count his constant touring of military bases in the states with the "Lt. Dan Band," of which Sinise is the founder and bassist."He is very, very supportive of the troops," said Capt. Jesse Davidson, a circuit manager with Armed Forces Entertainment. "He brings a message to the troops that people back home are thinking of them," continued the Arlington, Va., native. "He loves talking to the guys and hearing their stories. It's a huge morale boost for the troops."Sinise had plenty of opportunity to mingle with Marines, Sailors, airmen and soldiers during his visit to Jalalabad, and to hear some stories as well."I was expecting that he would just sign an autograph and take a picture with you and that would be that, but he really takes the time to look you in the eye and talk with you," said Lance Cpl. Jordan Mazur, a rifleman with Headquarters Platoon, Alpha Company, 1/3. "He was so down to earth and just like a regular guy. Probably the best part about meeting him was that he just made us feel like we were important and he made us all feel like we mattered," added the Sarasota, Fla., native."It's not often that Marines get to meet someone as famous as him," said 1st Sgt. Jerry Fowler, company first sergeant, Alpha Company, 1/3. "It says a lot about him as a man that he would come out here and show his support to us by visiting with the Marines. It's a morale boost and we all really appreciated it," continued the native of Moore, Okla.Sinise said he was more than happy to oblige."The whole purpose of me coming out here is just to try to boost morale, to break up the day a little bit for the people who are out here working hard on the front lines," said Sinise. "If I can show up and meet some troops, shake some hands and take some pictures, then that's the least I can do. I just want to show how much I appreciate what our troops are doing for our country."In addition to constantly visiting with the troops when he is not on a Broadway stage or a movie or television studio set, Sinise has also co-founded Operation Iraqi Children, which provides educational materials to children in Iraq. Sinise does more than just lend his name to the operation, he actively participates. On his last visit to Iraq, Sinise accompanied service members as they rebuilt an Iraqi school.His constant support of the troops has not gone unnoticed, as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited Sinise on the set of "CSI: New York" last year to thank him for his constant support of America's service members."I just want the troops to know that there are a lot of people back home who know how hard they are working and what a dangerous job they have," said Sinise. "It is important to me that the troops know how much we care about them back home - that they know there are people backing them up. God bless the troops."As he prepared to board a helicopter at Jalalabad Airfield - the veteran actor of such films as "Apollo 13," "Ransom," "The Green Mile," "Reindeer Games," "Mission to Mars" and "The Stand," and Emmy award winner for Outstanding Lead Actor in "George Wallace," and Golden Globe award winner for Best Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries for "Truman," and, of course, an Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor "in Forrest Gump" for his portrayal of Lt. Dan - Sinise seemed to have transformed himself from world famous celebrity actor to just another Marine serving his country."He's one of us," said Sgt. Scott Lindberg, of Communications Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 1/3. "He is supporting us not only back home in the states but also on the front lines overseas," continued the Kent, Wash., native. "It makes me feel good to know there are good people like Gary Sinise out there who never forget about us serving over here in combat. He is an American patriot."