Sinise urges more funds for disabled vets

Actor Gary Sinise, an advocate for American troops, urged the government and private sector on Memorial Day to spend more money on disabled veterans and to provide more counseling for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or become suicidal.

“The issue is what happens when they leave the hospital. They are still struggling for benefits and still struggling to recover and get things that are owed to them and, quite frankly, we have just fallen down in certain areas where we need to do more,” Mr. Sinise said.

“There are 3 million disabled veterans from World War II until now,” he said. “We can never do enough for them in my opinion, but we can always try to do more.”

In the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters, more than 35,000 American warriors have been wounded, Mr. Sinise said.

RELATED STORY: Young, old alike honor the fallen

“That’s a lot of wounded. Times have changed and we’re saving lives we never could have saved before; and that means we will have a lot more disabled veterans in this country,” Mr. Sinise said.

“These guys are surviving these IED attacks because we can get to them very quickly and get them off the battlefield and get them into hospitals. But then what?”

In a wide-ranging interview with reporters and editors at The Washington Times, Mr. Sinise touched on the damage caused by the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, his work for veterans organizations and his political aspirations.

He said he doesn’t have any political aspirations.

“I make a good living right now. I am getting a lot done. How much does Congress get done?” Mr. Sinise said.

“I’m not a political activist; that’s not what I do. I try to help people out,” he said.

“I have certain issues I’m very passionate about. I love this country, I think it’s a great country, and I believe in those who are willing to defend it, and I’m trying to help them and their families,” Mr. Sinise said.

In addition to his role in “CSI: NY,” Mr. Sinise also has starred in “Apollo 13,” “Ransom,” “Reindeer Games,” “Snake Eyes” and “Of Mice and Men.” However, it was Mr. Sinise’s role as Lt. Dan Taylor, the disabled Vietnam veteran he played in “Forrest Gump,” that has endeared him to the troops and veterans to whom he has dedicated his life.

Story Continues →