FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Gerlach Field was filled with people sitting on blankets, in lawn chairs and gathered around a stage as the sounds of Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band filled the air July 26.
“It’s good to be back at Fort Leonard Wood. We have been trying to get back here for a while,” said actor, musician and humanitarian Sinise, who famously starred in the 1994 film, “Forrest Gump,” as Army Lieutenant Dan Taylor.
It has been 14 years since the 15-piece band, sponsored by the Gary Sinise Foundation, was able to make a stop at Fort Leonard Wood to entertain the community.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been to Fort Leonard Wood, and this year, the 399th Army Band is opening for us. We always like to incorporate the military acts whenever possible. It is one of the most fun places that I remember going to years back. We are excited to be back at Fort Leonard Wood,” Lt. Dan Band tour and production manager, James Stuckmann, told the “Show Me Today” radio show.
The group performs about 30 shows each year, Stuckmann said, and, “this week, we have at least seven different events going. We are hopping around.”
The cover band plays everything from pop to rock and country songs.
“There is a lot of variety. There is something for everybody in the show. We even throw in a few Disney songs for the kids. It’s a lot of fun,” Stuckmann said.
The band is made up of five vocalists, a three-horn section, a couple of guitar players, a drummer, a percussionist and keyboard players.
Harry Watters, who plays trombone for the band, said Fort Leonard Wood will always be a special place to him. In 1993, Watters graduated from basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood.
He said he was filled with gratitude and respect to be back on the installation, “for all of the tremendous work that happens here year after year, preparing our new Soldiers to pursue excellence in service to our nation.”
Watters said his favorite thing about performing with the Lt. Dan Band is, “witnessing the shared joy and fellowship throughout the audience, from the older veterans and civilians to the newest recruits.”
According to Sinise, his foundation has a broad mission — the band is just one of them.
“Serving Heroes is another one of the foundation’s programs. I have been doing it for years. I want to show them they are supported and appreciated. People are out here every day defending our country, and we want them to know we are grateful,” Sinise said.
Pvt. Darian Talley, from Company D, 787th Military Police Battalion, was in the middle of rifle training, when he found out his company would be leaving the range and heading to their headquarters building for a special lunch instead of having MREs — Talley was one of about 400 Soldiers from the 787th MP Bn. the foundation fed July 26 before the Lt. Dan Band concert.
“When I saw my plate, I wanted to cry tears of joy, honestly. It was delicious,” Talley said. “Gary and his crew are fantastic. It was so nice of them to feed us all.”
Sinise said luncheons and concerts, like the ones his foundation provided on Fort Leonard Wood, wouldn’t be possible without the support of “the American people.”
For the Lt. Dan Band tour schedule and more information about the Gary Sinise Foundation, visit their website.
Photos from the Lt. Dan Band visit to Fort Leonard Wood are available to view and download on the Fort Leonard Wood Flickr page and the Fort Leonard Wood MWR Flickr page.
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