ELLSWORTH AFB - Hours before the Lt. Dan Band was scheduled to play Friday's concert at Ellsworth Air Force Base, the actor Gary Sinise reflected on some of the reasons the band was founded.

One reason is that the well-known actor has Vietnam veterans in his family, and he doesn't want some of the politics prevalent during the Vietnam War to affect Iraq War veterans.

"I remember all too well what it was like for our Vietnam veterans to come home from war to a nation that was divided and torn and ungrateful for what our service members had gone through," he said Friday afternoon in an interview at Ellsworth. "And we don't want that to happen to our service members again."

Sinise said he wants to ensure that Americans appreciate all of the sacrifices made by soldiers who volunteer to serve in Iraq.

Sinise plays bass for the 11-member band, which specializes in entertaining American troops stationed overseas and in the U.S. The band was named after the character played by Sinise - Lt. Dan Taylor - in the Oscar-winning movie "Forrest Gump."

The group, a cover band that plays a variety of tunes across several musical genres, was scheduled to put on a private concert for Ellsworth Airmen and their families at 5 p.m. Friday at the base theater.

Sinise grew up playing guitar and, later, the bass, but shifted his focus to acting when he was 18. He currently plays Det. Mac Taylor in the CBS series "CSI: NY." and schedules his visits to troops around his work schedule.

About 10 or 11 years ago, he began focusing on music again and started playing with other musicians.

Then, when the U.S. began deploying troops to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003, Sinise put the band together and volunteered to go entertain the troops.

"Wherever we go, when we play for the troops, it's always a great show," he said. "They're always happy that we're there. We're happy to be there."

Sinise said one of the band's most memorable shows occurred last October at Walter Reed hospital in Washington, D.C.

"It's always very moving to me to play for the troops, but there we were playing for the wounded and their families and the staff at the hospitals," he said.

Friday's show kicked off the 26th tour Sinise has done for the United Services Organizations, created to support American troops.

Many veterans identify specifically with Sinise because of the tribulations his character endures as a post-Vietnam War disabled veteran.

"When I walk in, it's like Lt. Dan is walking in, and they think that I understand their situation because I played the character," he said.

The band actually received its name because of the number of times Sinise was referred to as "Lt. Dan" during his overseas appearances.

But playing a disabled veteran in a movie and visiting many veterans in hospitals helps Sinise understand only a part of what veterans with real-life disabilities have to go through.

"I only understand it so much," he said. "That was acting. But I think because I did play that character, there's some kind of connection they make with me. And if I can come in and help them during a difficult time in the hospital, that's the least I can do."

Contact Ryan Woodard at 394-8412 or ryan.woodard@rapidcityjournal.com