Lt. Dan Band rocks northern tier

Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

8/18/2014 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Shouts of "Lieutenant Dan!" filled the air as thousands of Airmen and their families rocked out with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band over the weekend.

Sinise, who made his mark on Hollywood with roles in movies such as Apollo 13 and Of Mice and Men, as well as on CSI: New York, is best known to millions simply as Lt. Dan, a Vietnam veteran in the 1994 film Forrest Gump. The Lt. Dan Band, co-founded by Sinise and in which he plays bass, performed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, Minot AFB, North Dakota, and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming between Aug. 15 and Aug. 17. Their message was simple: "It is a privilege to play for you - thank you for serving our country."

"Personally, I have made it a particular mission to do what I can to draw attention to our military and first responder communities and to make sure they know they are remembered and appreciated," Sinise said.

The Lt. Dan Band drew record crowds at each venue, with overall attendance totaling approximately five thousand people. Response to the performances was overwhelmingly positive. Some attendees said it was the best thing to happen at their base in years.

The performances are part of a wider, ongoing push by Air Force Global Strike Command to bring high-quality entertainment to the more isolated northern-tier bases.
Also present at the Malmstrom performance was the Steak Team Mission, a Texas-based nonprofit organization that serves steak dinners to servicemembers in remote or hazardous locations, who cooked over 1200 streaks for the Airmen and their families.

The Lt. Dan Band has been active for more than 10 years, entertaining thousands of troops around the world. It is part of the Gary Sinise Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises support and awareness for military members and first responders, and their families.

"Whether through performing with the band, supporting a military charity or visiting the war zones and hospitals to shake some hands and take some pictures, all of it helps them know that there are people out there who are aware of, and appreciate, their sacrifices, and who understand the importance of keeping our military families strong in difficult times," Sinise said.