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jennad's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent. I cried 5 times. Heartfelt. Gary Sinise is doing excellent work. May God continue to bless him!
janeeyre_914716's review against another edition
5.0
“No entertainer alive today has visited and performed more for our troops at veterans hospitals and military bases all over the world than Gary Sinise…The book is called GRATEFUL AMERICAN , and I promise that after you read it you will be grateful for what Gary has accomplished and contributed to our country. He’s truly one of a kind.” ~Clint Eastwood
I too echo his words. After reading and listening to this book which played with my emotions and cry more tears in this genre and style of book I’ve ever read, I can truly say I am proud to be an American through and through and to know people like Gary Sinise are the real deal. Humble. Genuinely wants to make a difference because it’s what brings him peace. It’s what helps him get through fears he had acquired after 9/11/01 had happened and the worries he had for his families future. He’s actually a great narrator and made the book more meaningful if you but read and/or listen to this story of his of what led him to do what he’s doing now for our troops and why. But to know the impact he’s had over the span of who knows how many years now is amazing. However, some I’ve noticed and I personally feel like they nit-pick at the book here and there, they’re losing the sole purpose of this book mainly and who it’s also about. Not just him, but our troops as well. How we’ve in a way forgotten them even though we know they’re there. But do we truly know who some of these men and women are? Their stories? Their life after surviving horrific injuries? Gary Sinise shows that and gives us glimpses into military life in a way. To see what these soldiers have to go through. And that really, anything and death can happen in just the blink of an eye for those men and women.
Now, I’m not trying to book shame here or anything because we all have entitled opinions, but for once, I just wish some people would read these books for who the person is and not worry so much about the ‘technical’ stuff and judge it as an ordinary fiction book because it’s not. It’s a real life story. These are real life stories. I actually end up not seeing anything to pick at and just read and/or listen to their life. What the individual had gone through in their life. Because just like everyone of us, Gary Sinise is also human. He’s had his ups and downs in his personal life, in his family life, married life and had to face them just like everyone else.
But those few reviews I feel where people ‘picked’ or thought he was probably boasting of himself for the awards and good he’s done when really that wasn’t his intent, I personally feel like the message of this book was misinterpreted. To me, it was a story about a troubled midlife crisis young man in High School and what would have been his college days, from giving up his lifestyle he chose to grow up in, to becoming a hardworking and loving husband and father and trying to provide for his family, to having a life healing mission after September 11, 2001 and wanting to make a difference for those in the military. Someone who saw the US troops and was afraid for them when they got deployed to the Middle East in Post 9/11 and he didn’t want them to be or have the same treatment as those back when the Korean and especially Vietnam veterans had gotten. But it was also a story much later on and for the last third of the book dedicated in a way to the troops of this beloved country and their sacrifices. Sharing real life stories of some he’d met. Some stories and experiences he had on visits. Ways to show how he wanted to give back but also in his way to say thank you to these brave men and women.
It all started because of the way those soldiers in the Korean War and ESPECIALLY the Vietnam War veterans and the treatment they had gotten when they had come home from these two wars.
“When our troops came home from World War II, they were given ticker-tape parades, but when they came home from Korea, they were largely forgotten. And when they came back from Vietnam, they were greeted with anger, Spit upon. Called names. Hit with wadded-up lunch sacks filled with feces. There were no welcome home parades for our Vietnam veterans. When our veterans returned from the first Gulf War, unlike Vietnam, they were greeted with giant parades in New York and a few other cities. Yet even though our country eventually tried to make amends with Vietnam veterans by supporting them as they created the Vietnam Memorial in DC, and with some cities hosting in the mid-1980s a few welcome home parades, now in 1994 I can sense remnants of this rift in our country, this still-open wound for the veterans of the Vietnam War.”
When I first heard those words, I couldn’t stop crying because of how much he sounded like he truly and genuinely come to care for the military when it all started with how the Vietnam veterans were treated. And the seeds and after effects of 9/11 had sparked something in Gary to make a difference and had put forth the effort to wanting and willingly give more and back to the military since that fateful day.
So despite him saying of all the awards he had received for his actions, for what he’s done, but to think of the impact by just being there and visiting and taking time out of his everyday life when he can and could have better things to do and get to know many families of military. To be involved in some lives, to want to help as well and most of all the disabled veterans. Instead of trying to ‘pick’ at some things, or say this man is ‘boasting’ in a way for what he’s done, what he’s trying to get at is that as Americans we can and should try to make a difference in people’s lives. For him it’s serving, helping, and supporting these military men. Whether they’re veterans no matter the age or in combat in the War Zone, he finds that for him, he needs and wants to make a difference to these men and women who literally sacrifice their lives so we can have the freedoms we have in this country of the USA.
When he had received an award in 1994, just six weeks after Forrest Gump had been in the theaters, he had been awarded at this convention of disabled veterans and even Vietnam veterans because of his role as Lt. Dan who was also a Vietnam disabled veteran and on this award he shared the following words…..
” “Your superb performance brought awareness of the lifelong sacrifice of disabled veterans back into public consciousness in a remarkably positive way.” One word of that inscription stops me cold. But I don’t know what to do with it at first….That single word has lodged itself deeply into my mind. The word has burned its collective sorrow and shame into me, and it’s made me say a silent vow to do everything in my power to overturn all the wrongs it stands for. The one word is back….how can I make a difference in restoring what’s been lost? How can I help make sure our veterans are never treated that way again?”
And so he tells how he had done just that. All because it started because of the morning of September 11, 2001 and when our troops were sent out to the Middle East and the rest is history. But this is a story of a journey of one American, actor or not, who wanted to make a difference and to give more and back to these men and women no matter who they are in any form of military to help them know that they aren’t forgotten. It’s a book I had actually bawled and sobbed and cried my eyes out more than once because of what he had to go through at some point with his family with some of their own hardships and his marriage, to see him from who he was growing up to who he is today, Gary Sinise is one of a kind. He’s humble. He wants to share these stories of these brave men and women whether they died or not, veteran or not. To help us to not ever forget our troops and to thank them whenever possible.
Gary Sinise to me is a true American hero in and I don’t know if he can grasp the impact that he’s making and can’t possibly imagine how much he’s changing his life, those in service to our country but also to many of us other American citizens. To find ways to give back to the country. Maybe not all can do what he does, but to him personally you could tell that . Never in my rare readings of nonfiction and/or modern day biographies and life stories leading up to the person’s life today have I cried so much, so hard, and felt the genuineness and humility of such a man as Gary Sinise. This book for me changed my life. But it also hit home for me considering I have a 91 year old grandpa who had fought in the Korean War as Army Intelligence and was stationed in Germany at the time. Only because of the army unit he had been training under, he was the only one who was pulled out of his unit because he could speak German and so he was stationed in Germany. I asked him about the others in his unit and he did say they went to battle he had heard, and later learned a lot of them never made it home alive.
So looking at his story, and at the beginning when talking about our troops from the Korean war being practically forgotten and then the Vietnam war troops had worse broke my heart. But it made me grateful to know that no matter how or where my grandfather served in the Korean War, he’s my hero even more so and so grateful for his sacrifice and putting his life on hold to serve in the Korean War. He probably in his way had changed lives despite the outcome of the war. He still was able to make a difference by serving in the war, to give his service for his country. Never have I been even prouder of my 91 year old grandpa and to be his granddaughter after this book. I in fact ended up ordering a copy of this book so he could borrow it because 12 minutes into the audiobook in the prologue, I knew my grandpa would enjoy this book and now that I’m done I truly think knowing him he may begin to feel a little better and gratitude to know that someone is making a difference for our military and so they don’t have to go through the same treatment as those in the Korean and Vietnam Wars went through.
“The simple story here is that from the creation in 2011, the foundation {Gary Sinise Foundation} has grown into a friendly giant. We’ve gone from one donor—just me in the beginning to a base of more than forty-five thousand donors and annual budget of nearly $30 million. In our early years, a terrific board of directors formed…and played a significant role in our expansion. Our growth has been terrific, and it is my sincere hope and belief that if I fell off the earth tomorrow, something important would be left behind that would continue to help people. We’re getting great things done. But there’s lots more work to do, and we are always looking for more ways we can help our nation’s defenders. I like to spread this message, a motto we’ve come to live by at the foundation. That motto holds that while we can never do enough to show our gratitude to our nation’s defenders, veterans, first responders, and the families who serve alongside them, ‘we can always do a little more.”
I too echo his words. After reading and listening to this book which played with my emotions and cry more tears in this genre and style of book I’ve ever read, I can truly say I am proud to be an American through and through and to know people like Gary Sinise are the real deal. Humble. Genuinely wants to make a difference because it’s what brings him peace. It’s what helps him get through fears he had acquired after 9/11/01 had happened and the worries he had for his families future. He’s actually a great narrator and made the book more meaningful if you but read and/or listen to this story of his of what led him to do what he’s doing now for our troops and why. But to know the impact he’s had over the span of who knows how many years now is amazing. However, some I’ve noticed and I personally feel like they nit-pick at the book here and there, they’re losing the sole purpose of this book mainly and who it’s also about. Not just him, but our troops as well. How we’ve in a way forgotten them even though we know they’re there. But do we truly know who some of these men and women are? Their stories? Their life after surviving horrific injuries? Gary Sinise shows that and gives us glimpses into military life in a way. To see what these soldiers have to go through. And that really, anything and death can happen in just the blink of an eye for those men and women.
Now, I’m not trying to book shame here or anything because we all have entitled opinions, but for once, I just wish some people would read these books for who the person is and not worry so much about the ‘technical’ stuff and judge it as an ordinary fiction book because it’s not. It’s a real life story. These are real life stories. I actually end up not seeing anything to pick at and just read and/or listen to their life. What the individual had gone through in their life. Because just like everyone of us, Gary Sinise is also human. He’s had his ups and downs in his personal life, in his family life, married life and had to face them just like everyone else.
But those few reviews I feel where people ‘picked’ or thought he was probably boasting of himself for the awards and good he’s done when really that wasn’t his intent, I personally feel like the message of this book was misinterpreted. To me, it was a story about a troubled midlife crisis young man in High School and what would have been his college days, from giving up his lifestyle he chose to grow up in, to becoming a hardworking and loving husband and father and trying to provide for his family, to having a life healing mission after September 11, 2001 and wanting to make a difference for those in the military. Someone who saw the US troops and was afraid for them when they got deployed to the Middle East in Post 9/11 and he didn’t want them to be or have the same treatment as those back when the Korean and especially Vietnam veterans had gotten. But it was also a story much later on and for the last third of the book dedicated in a way to the troops of this beloved country and their sacrifices. Sharing real life stories of some he’d met. Some stories and experiences he had on visits. Ways to show how he wanted to give back but also in his way to say thank you to these brave men and women.
It all started because of the way those soldiers in the Korean War and ESPECIALLY the Vietnam War veterans and the treatment they had gotten when they had come home from these two wars.
“When our troops came home from World War II, they were given ticker-tape parades, but when they came home from Korea, they were largely forgotten. And when they came back from Vietnam, they were greeted with anger, Spit upon. Called names. Hit with wadded-up lunch sacks filled with feces. There were no welcome home parades for our Vietnam veterans. When our veterans returned from the first Gulf War, unlike Vietnam, they were greeted with giant parades in New York and a few other cities. Yet even though our country eventually tried to make amends with Vietnam veterans by supporting them as they created the Vietnam Memorial in DC, and with some cities hosting in the mid-1980s a few welcome home parades, now in 1994 I can sense remnants of this rift in our country, this still-open wound for the veterans of the Vietnam War.”
When I first heard those words, I couldn’t stop crying because of how much he sounded like he truly and genuinely come to care for the military when it all started with how the Vietnam veterans were treated. And the seeds and after effects of 9/11 had sparked something in Gary to make a difference and had put forth the effort to wanting and willingly give more and back to the military since that fateful day.
So despite him saying of all the awards he had received for his actions, for what he’s done, but to think of the impact by just being there and visiting and taking time out of his everyday life when he can and could have better things to do and get to know many families of military. To be involved in some lives, to want to help as well and most of all the disabled veterans. Instead of trying to ‘pick’ at some things, or say this man is ‘boasting’ in a way for what he’s done, what he’s trying to get at is that as Americans we can and should try to make a difference in people’s lives. For him it’s serving, helping, and supporting these military men. Whether they’re veterans no matter the age or in combat in the War Zone, he finds that for him, he needs and wants to make a difference to these men and women who literally sacrifice their lives so we can have the freedoms we have in this country of the USA.
When he had received an award in 1994, just six weeks after Forrest Gump had been in the theaters, he had been awarded at this convention of disabled veterans and even Vietnam veterans because of his role as Lt. Dan who was also a Vietnam disabled veteran and on this award he shared the following words…..
” “Your superb performance brought awareness of the lifelong sacrifice of disabled veterans back into public consciousness in a remarkably positive way.” One word of that inscription stops me cold. But I don’t know what to do with it at first….That single word has lodged itself deeply into my mind. The word has burned its collective sorrow and shame into me, and it’s made me say a silent vow to do everything in my power to overturn all the wrongs it stands for. The one word is back….how can I make a difference in restoring what’s been lost? How can I help make sure our veterans are never treated that way again?”
And so he tells how he had done just that. All because it started because of the morning of September 11, 2001 and when our troops were sent out to the Middle East and the rest is history. But this is a story of a journey of one American, actor or not, who wanted to make a difference and to give more and back to these men and women no matter who they are in any form of military to help them know that they aren’t forgotten. It’s a book I had actually bawled and sobbed and cried my eyes out more than once because of what he had to go through at some point with his family with some of their own hardships and his marriage, to see him from who he was growing up to who he is today, Gary Sinise is one of a kind. He’s humble. He wants to share these stories of these brave men and women whether they died or not, veteran or not. To help us to not ever forget our troops and to thank them whenever possible.
Gary Sinise to me is a true American hero in and I don’t know if he can grasp the impact that he’s making and can’t possibly imagine how much he’s changing his life, those in service to our country but also to many of us other American citizens. To find ways to give back to the country. Maybe not all can do what he does, but to him personally you could tell that . Never in my rare readings of nonfiction and/or modern day biographies and life stories leading up to the person’s life today have I cried so much, so hard, and felt the genuineness and humility of such a man as Gary Sinise. This book for me changed my life. But it also hit home for me considering I have a 91 year old grandpa who had fought in the Korean War as Army Intelligence and was stationed in Germany at the time. Only because of the army unit he had been training under, he was the only one who was pulled out of his unit because he could speak German and so he was stationed in Germany. I asked him about the others in his unit and he did say they went to battle he had heard, and later learned a lot of them never made it home alive.
So looking at his story, and at the beginning when talking about our troops from the Korean war being practically forgotten and then the Vietnam war troops had worse broke my heart. But it made me grateful to know that no matter how or where my grandfather served in the Korean War, he’s my hero even more so and so grateful for his sacrifice and putting his life on hold to serve in the Korean War. He probably in his way had changed lives despite the outcome of the war. He still was able to make a difference by serving in the war, to give his service for his country. Never have I been even prouder of my 91 year old grandpa and to be his granddaughter after this book. I in fact ended up ordering a copy of this book so he could borrow it because 12 minutes into the audiobook in the prologue, I knew my grandpa would enjoy this book and now that I’m done I truly think knowing him he may begin to feel a little better and gratitude to know that someone is making a difference for our military and so they don’t have to go through the same treatment as those in the Korean and Vietnam Wars went through.
“The simple story here is that from the creation in 2011, the foundation {Gary Sinise Foundation} has grown into a friendly giant. We’ve gone from one donor—just me in the beginning to a base of more than forty-five thousand donors and annual budget of nearly $30 million. In our early years, a terrific board of directors formed…and played a significant role in our expansion. Our growth has been terrific, and it is my sincere hope and belief that if I fell off the earth tomorrow, something important would be left behind that would continue to help people. We’re getting great things done. But there’s lots more work to do, and we are always looking for more ways we can help our nation’s defenders. I like to spread this message, a motto we’ve come to live by at the foundation. That motto holds that while we can never do enough to show our gratitude to our nation’s defenders, veterans, first responders, and the families who serve alongside them, ‘we can always do a little more.”
terrimarshall's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this memoir by actor, Gary Sinise. His life story of how his first big movie role as Lieutenant Dan in Forest Gump turned into a lifetime of service to our nation's veterans, especially severely wounded veterans, is absolutely incredible. I really admire Gary and his tireless service to our military, veterans, and first responders through his Gary Sinise Foundation. Gary is a prime example of why actors, professional athletes, and other famous people shouldn't just "shut up and play" but should absolutely use their celebrity for causes that are important to them. Gary has used his celebrity including his money and his fame to do a ton of good work. I loved hearing his story.
auntsusie41's review against another edition
5.0
When I first received my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book from the publisher, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew Gary Sinise from Forrest Gump, but didn't follow his work a lot outside of that. This book describes Gary's journey in an honest and humble way. His heart for serving those who gave up so much is moving and encouraging. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
jaimeleigh318's review against another edition
5.0
"Each person is here for a purpose. As the years have rolled on, I've come to believe that purpose is to care for other people and to help this world become a better place through service to others. This belief is part of my life's mission."
From his early years in Chicago, through his days of acting, and family life, Mr. Sinise offers the reader a look into his life and career. All of his life experiences contributed to this theory of service to others and honoring our military and rescue workers. 9/11, having made an impact on every American, inspired Gary to show gratitude to those men and women who enable us to live the lives we do.
Sinise's faith also reminds us that, "God can cause all things to work together for good." And God is certainly using this man for good. Thank you, Gary Sinise, for this book and for the works of service you do. But also for reminding us that we should all be Grateful Americans.
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
From his early years in Chicago, through his days of acting, and family life, Mr. Sinise offers the reader a look into his life and career. All of his life experiences contributed to this theory of service to others and honoring our military and rescue workers. 9/11, having made an impact on every American, inspired Gary to show gratitude to those men and women who enable us to live the lives we do.
Sinise's faith also reminds us that, "God can cause all things to work together for good." And God is certainly using this man for good. Thank you, Gary Sinise, for this book and for the works of service you do. But also for reminding us that we should all be Grateful Americans.
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
dblake6145's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time! Outstanding and inspiring
jennifermreads's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this one up because my mom and bonus-dad said it was a “must read.” They were right. Wow. How uplifting, moving, emotional, touching, and hopeful. A word of warning: do not listen to this book while trying to apply makeup. I had to wash my face and start makeup application over three times while listening to this book. I should have known better than to keep listening while prepping for work … the first time I was in tears was during the prologue!
I, like so many, became familiar with Gary Sinise after his role as Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. What I had no idea about was how influential that role was in his own life, how much it steered all of his life thereafter. His portrayal of a disabled veteran brought light the atrocities faced by soldiers during the Vietnam War, the unmeasurable sacrifices the soldiers made in the war, and the horrible treatment that Vietnam Veterans received on their return home. Veterans flocked to Gary Sinise. But the actor used the fame to lend his heart to causes that help and support veterans. What started as handshake tours with the USO grew into his foundation that still thrives today.
While the book will indeed have your heart swelling with pride over being American and so thankful for all the soldiers have given to help us be free, readers also will get a glimpse into Mr. Sinise’s youth, the development of the now-famous Steppenwolf theater group, and his acting career. But make no mistake. This is a book about veterans, for veterans, and with thanks to veterans. What an amazing man who has given so much of himself to such an amazing group of people. I add my own thanks to those who have given of themselves in service to our country. God bless you.
I, like so many, became familiar with Gary Sinise after his role as Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. What I had no idea about was how influential that role was in his own life, how much it steered all of his life thereafter. His portrayal of a disabled veteran brought light the atrocities faced by soldiers during the Vietnam War, the unmeasurable sacrifices the soldiers made in the war, and the horrible treatment that Vietnam Veterans received on their return home. Veterans flocked to Gary Sinise. But the actor used the fame to lend his heart to causes that help and support veterans. What started as handshake tours with the USO grew into his foundation that still thrives today.
While the book will indeed have your heart swelling with pride over being American and so thankful for all the soldiers have given to help us be free, readers also will get a glimpse into Mr. Sinise’s youth, the development of the now-famous Steppenwolf theater group, and his acting career. But make no mistake. This is a book about veterans, for veterans, and with thanks to veterans. What an amazing man who has given so much of himself to such an amazing group of people. I add my own thanks to those who have given of themselves in service to our country. God bless you.
seantele's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great book. Cried several times while reading it! Thank you Gary Sinise for all you do!
chuxsox's review against another edition
3.0
There is no doubt that Gary Sinise has done more to support, cheer, entertain, and serve US servicemen and servicewomen than almost anyone in the history of the US. As a veteran, I am grateful for all of the time, energy, and dedication he has given to the aforementioned endeavor. I truly enjoyed this book for the most part - how Gary told the story of his shift from serving and glorifying self to serving in what I would call the most vigorous serving I have ever seen. It was good to understand where he came from and how he came to be the Gary Sinise whom we all know and love. However, after he came to the point in his life when he realized that he wanted to exert the large part of his energy to ensuring that the members of our armed services are appreciated, the book began to read almost as a resume of all of the serving he has done - almost as if he is trying to prove that he is a good man to the reader, to the listener, or to God. This was a huge drawback of this account. If his desire in writing and performing this book was to toot his own horn, then he certainly succeeded. Propriety suggests that he should probably have focused on telling his life change story and let others give him accolades.
amytir's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audio version of this book. I enjoyed hearing it read by the author himself and it was interesting to hear him tell his story. I appreciate his mission and his efforts to reach further and further without ceasing to achieve it.