Steppenwolf Theatre Founder Gary Sinise Embarking On His 17th USO Tour

Actor, director and producer Gary Sinise is embarking on his 17th USO tour to provide a morale boost to Marines, sailors and their family members March 12 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) in Twentynine Palms, Calif. The trip, sponsored by TriWest Healthcare Alliance, will feature Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. Best known for his Oscar-nominated performance as Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump," he is currently starring in the new hit series "CSI: New York" on CBS.

Located near the Joshua Tree National Park, the MCAGCC is the largest and fastest-growing base in the Marine Corps, home to 19,000 Marines, sailors, family members and civilian workers. Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band performed at MCAGCC last March.

A long-time supporter of service members and veterans, Sinise was among the group of celebrities on the USO's first tour to Baghdad in June 2003. He also has visited troops in Diego Garcia, Singapore, Korea, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, the Netherlands, England and Italy. Sinise also has spent time with troops who are recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. In January, Sinise and the band entertained troops stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

Founder of Chicago's influential Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Sinise has starred on Broadway in "The Grapes of Wrath" and "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest." Performances as title characters in "Truman" (for which he won a Cable Ace Award and a Golden Globe) and "George Wallace" (for which he won an Emmy) earned him the reputation of one of America's most versatile actors. Film credits include "Apollo 13," "The Green Mile" and "The Forgotten."

Following his second USO tour to Iraq, during which he visited with Iraqi school children, Sinise co-founded Operation Iraqi Children, which provides educational materials to students in Iraq through the generosity of the American people.