FORT BENNING, Ga., (Sept. 9, 2015) -- Each year the Doughboy Award, a chrome replica of a helmet worn by American Expeditionary Soldiers during World War I and the early days of World War II, is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the U.S. Army Infantry.

The 2015 Doughboy Award dinner, hosted by the Infantry Association, will be held Sept. 15 at the National Infantry Museum as a part of the Maneuver Warfighter Conference.

This year retired Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Mellinger and actor Gary Sinise will receive the Doughboy Award, which is the highest honor the chief of Infantry can bestow on any Infantryman.

McCaffrey retired after serving the Army for 32 years. Over the course of his career he received three Purple Heart medals, two Distinguished Service Crosses and two Silver Stars, making him the most highly decorated serving general at the time of his retirement.

In 2007, McCaffrey was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame and received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Military Academy Association of Graduates in 2010.

McCaffrey is currently president of his consulting firm in Arlington, Virginia, and serves as a national security and terrorism analyst for NBC News.

McCaffrey said there is no community he feels greater respect for than the Infantry force.

"I will accept this Doughboy recognition on behalf of the many Infantry sergeants, Soldiers and young officers with whom I have served," McCaffrey said. "During four combat tours I have come to love and admire the Infantry troops who faced direct combat and hardships with such courage and selfless care for each other. There is no greater honor than to be one of them."

Mellinger served the Army for nearly 40 years.

In 2007, he assumed the duties of U.S. Army Material Command's command sergeant major, where he remained until his retirement in 2011. Mellinger, drafted in 1972, was one of the last active duty enlisted draftees of the Army.

Over the course of his career, Mellinger had more than 33 hours of accumulated freefall in more than 3,700 jumps and was an FAA Master Parachute Rigger.

Among his awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Army Good Conduct Medal.

Sinise is an actor and humanitarian who has been working in support of veterans since 1980, when he began supporting local Vietnam veterans groups in Chicago by creating the Vets Nights program, which invites veterans to a free dinner and performance at the Steppenwolf Theatre.

After his portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump, Sinise was introduced to the Disabled American Veterans organization and has continued to support wounded service members for more than 20 years. In 2003, Sinise volunteered for the USO and began visiting troops in Iraq and around the world.

The Gary Sinise Foundation was formed in 2011 to honor veterans, first responders and those in need by creating programs to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen and build communities.

For his work on behalf of veterans, Sinise has earned the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment, the Spirit of the USO Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Spirit of Hope Award and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award. He received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation, in 2008.