MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- The strong midday heat wasn’t enough to discourage service members and their families from turning out to enjoy the many diverse tunes of the Lt. Dan Band Saturday afternoon at Pop Warner Field aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
The band includes Gary Sinise, as bass guitarist, who is probably most well known for his portrayal of Lt. Dan in the movie “Forrest Gump,” a film in which he was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor in 1994.
More recently Sinise can be seen on the hit television show “CSI: New York.” During his time off, he travels to different military bases with his band, playing for the troops in the U.S. and foreign countries that include Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I think I’ve been to at least 40 or 50 bases in the last three years alone,” said Sinise, a native of Blue Island, Ill. “I hit as many bases as I can and try to sit down and have a meal with the troops. They need to know that they’re appreciated and not forgotten.”
Sinise began traveling to different bases on his own but soon asked the USO if he would be able to take a band with him. They complied.
That’s when Sinise spoke with his long-time friend and Vietnam veteran Kimo Williams, who was happy to help get a band together and begin traveling to different bases. Sinise played bass for years with Williams, who had been playing guitar and singing since he was in the Army.
The Lt. Dan Band plays everything from Springsteen and Linkin Park, to Aretha Franklin and Jimi Hendrix. Fans were invited to join on stage during the performance, so the entire show was interactive with everyone.
“I thought it was great when I saw how the band would just randomly pull up a bunch of the audience to the stage and really get them involved,” said Cpl. Leeann Gutkowski, administrative clerk, deployments section, Hawaii Installation Personnel Administration Center. “It’s nice to know that there are people out there who want to spend what little free time they have supporting the troops and their families. The whole band seemed to really enjoy what they were doing instead of feeling like they had to be there.”
According to Sinise, the band members think they are lucky to have people willing to volunteer for the armed services.
“I remember all too well how Vietnam veterans were treated when they came back from the war,” said Sinise. “Service members would feel ashamed for being in uniform. We never want that to happen again. They are not going to go unappreciated.”
Sinise said wherever he or the band may be performing, the troops’ spirits are always high.
“Wherever I go, they’re happy,” said Sinise. “I’ve found the morale of the troops is always high, no matter what they may be dealing with.”
The next stop for the Lt. Dan Band is Twentynine Palms, Calif.