Actor and philanthropist highlights growing civilian-military divide, drawing from his 'Forrest Gump' role and decades of veteran advocacy

Actor Gary Sinise is raising concerns that a large portion of the American public has become increasingly detached from the realities of military service, as fewer people have personal connections to those who serve.

In a recent interview on the "Searching for Heroes" podcast with Fox News’ Benjamin Hall, the "Forrest Gump" star said the lack of direct ties to service members creates a significant divide between civilians and the military.

"There's a lot of people in the country, believe it or not … they're not personally connected to anybody who serves," Sinise explained. "They're disconnected to what happens when somebody serves our country."

Sinise noted that this separation leaves some Americans questioning why individuals would choose to put on a uniform and deploy to war zones. He posed a deeper question: What would become of the nation's freedoms if no one stepped up to defend them?

The Golden Globe-winning actor, who portrayed Vietnam veteran Lieutenant Dan Taylor in the 1994 blockbuster "Forrest Gump," has turned his on-screen role into a lifelong commitment off-screen. After filming, he observed that veterans were more willing to open up to him because of the character, wrote Fox News.

"Lieutenant Dan walking into a hospital room could just make things a little bit easier for that family or that wounded service member," Sinise recalled. "When I saw that that was effective, I wanted to do it more and more."

That experience led him to found the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. The organization’s intentionally broad mission aims to assist as many American heroes as possible, with a strong emphasis on providing the respect, recognition, and welcome home that many Vietnam-era veterans never received.

"Many Vietnam veteran pals that I met through my work in Chicago, supporting them over the years, I credit them with kind of motivating me and inspiring me to try to do what I can today," Sinise said

.He stressed the importance of simple gestures of appreciation, such as thanking service members in uniform. "Coming up and patting them on the back and saying, ‘You know what? I appreciate people like you who serve our country in uniform. I appreciate what you do.’ That can change somebody's day," he added.

Sinise’s foundation works to ensure that veterans from more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan receive the support and homecoming celebrations that were denied to previous generations.

The actor continues to use his platform to bridge the gap between civilians and the military community, reminding the public of the personal sacrifices made by those who protect the country’s freedoms.

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