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Actor Gary Sinise on his efforts to help soldiers and those impacted by the events of Sept. 11, 2001
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Being attacked brought Americans together.
But a few Americans took advantage of that spirit to make money for themselves.
Will.
Talk about that in a moment but first let's talk to someone who did give of himself.
Actor Gary -- The 9/11.
Affected you when you launched a big charity after.
Well it did very much on there I'll never forget to.
Getting woken up I might.
Little.
Eight year old daughter and governor turn on the television and and seeing the images like so many millions and millions of people around the world where we're watching at that time.
He has riveted in my name my television set all morning and then finally I just I just had to get away from and it was it was overwhelming.
I remember so well hearing messages about people pitching -- I'm down at the site at ground 01.
And helping each other day in and day out over and over trying to help the first responders that -- there digging through the rubble and and so I just I tried to do what I could in that one of those things was solicited.
And get involved with our military as they were deploying to Afghanistan and then.
A few years later to Iraq and I am veterans and my family and I just started supporting them and I got involved with first responders and in new York and found ways to try to support them.
You've raised half a million dollars for school supply kits.
Half a million for toys these go to kids in Iraq.
Well I went to Iraq and in June of 2000.
Three and then again in November of 2003 on the November trip I had I had the opportunity go -- and -- -- schools that.
Our troops had and actually refurbished and -- built.
And when I returned I started a program called operation Iraqi children with Laura Hillenbrand -- that programs now expanded recall that operation international children now because we're shipping to Afghanistan.
Various places around the world -- -- since then next shoes Arab language books sports equipment.
All kinds of things you know just whatever whatever the troops could use to.
To reach out to the children in these war torn areas and since since 9/11 -- I've just.
Ended up getting involved with so many wonderful charities out there that are doing good things and ended up starting my own foundation to help.
Kind of RAMP up my efforts and and do more.
You're probably best known of people now as the detective and -- -- -- CSI and the season premieres in two weeks we have this clip.
US -- definitely.
Yes -- -- Today.
-- -- -- Here's an American.
-- -- -- -- Her name is clear victims are not steepening profiles they have names.
I'm sorry.
And in mean.
I know you don't think.
Is that we with the police department.
To do DNA research that might help identifying.
Them.
And helping to develop new techniques and extracting DNA because 1122.
Victims.
Still remain unidentified.
Those families don't have closure.
I know what that feels like.
In that particular clip I was talking about the number of people.
That were never identified were never found I mean it's over over 11100 people that were never found at the site on that just disappeared.
And there's a lot of you know DNA that's sitting in a -- medical Examiner's office.
In in New York still yet to be haven't sorted through and hand and those.
Those family members have never had closure and that's what I'm talking about in that particular episode.
He had done some forty USO tour.
Well I've been all over the world since.
-- started visiting our troops back in 2002.
And then later on I started taking them my band with me in 2004 and entertaining the troops around the world.
The lieutenant com day and band aimed after the in the movie Forrest Gump He won an Oscar for playing.
-- -- -- you were nominated for Oscar.
For playing lieutenant Dan and it's an odd inspiration.
For yield because.
He comes back bitter and drunk after Vietnam.
Well he's you know He comes back severely wounded -- lost both of his legs.
And it goes through is his understandable anguish and despair and -- -- hang -- about what his life is going to be.
But what's resilient about that particular story line is that lieutenant Dan turns his life around.
Through -- help over friend some friend reached out to amend.
And He ends up standing up and strong and and tall at the end of that particular.
Movie and since then I've you know I've I've gotten involved with the disabled American electorate veterans organization I've -- Many many lieutenant Dan's a lot of guys that have moved down with their lives after their -- injuries.
And that when I started visiting our troops overseas and everywhere when they were calming lieutenant Dan and everything so I just ended up.
I'm naming the -- after the character and that's it seems to have you know some sort of resonance for the troops and and get a lot of fun for them.
We're in Hollywood -- as an anti military attitude.
Well I'm not I'm not sure about that I mean I know there have been some -- films that have been released in the past that have not.
Necessarily depicted the of the troops are what they're doing in -- in a great light.
But I know that there'll -- many many many people in in the business out here who have great respect for the troops and and -- support our military.
I know a lot of people that do.
I'm you know I'm certainly out there doing what I can for -- and -- whenever I can.
-- -- bring fellow.
You know colleagues from that from the business to visit the hospitals or.
You know come to a concert with me -- do some nonmilitary charity event.
I do it and a lot of people.
-- people step up when asked and and I'm grateful for them.
Well so we it's good to know that thank you -- there's no question you have really given of your time and money.
