Friday, April 27, 2012

Four For Friday - Kindness

I know many of you have been wanting a kindness item for a bit, so here you go. This one actually came via a reader who wishes to be anonymous, but is pretty famous for some of his comments.

In 2011, a young Marine was wounded in action fighting bravely in Afghanistan when an IED exploded directly beneath him. We’ll call him the Veteran Hero. Sadly, our Hero lost both of his legs, his right arm, and most of the use of his other arm in the line of duty. Undergoing grueling surgeries, the young Hero emerged alive - but depressed at being disabled for life while still in his 20s with little more than his military disability pay to live on - and few if any job prospects. Enter our CDAN “Reader”, and some of the “good guys” in the entertainment industry.

In 2003, our Reader felt patriotic and accepted an assignment with the government as a contractor to the Pentagon and intelligence community (to lend his creative skills to our country). It was during this time that the Reader reconnected with an A-list actor friend who was doing a USO tour in the desert with several other stars.

The A-List actor in question has been in some of the biggest movies ever and even does television and is very good at it. His name recognition is probably B+. He usually flies below the radar with his personal life.

The Actor and the Reader were talking one day in Iraq and the Actor was explaining this new charitable foundation he’d become a part of. The Actor teamed up his own private charity with a 9-11 survivor family foundation (named for a heroic firefighter who died on 9-11) and their goal is to help disabled vets return to the world. The Reader and Actor went their separate ways, but did keep in touch over the years.

When our veteran war Hero was released from Walter Reed hospital, he was confined to a wheelchair and carried massive shrapnel still in his body. The Hero was also suffering from severe depression, and had very little money to even refit his family’s house for disabled access. Our vet was born, raised, and graduated high school in a very small town. Our CDAN Reader grew up in the same community, and graduated from the same high school (although many years apart). The Reader had already lost one close Marine friend in Iraq, and had two family members still serving in Special Forces and Airborne units. When he heard about the hero’s plight from his own hometown, he knew what he wanted to do.

Our Reader got in touch with our A-list Actor and his charity foundation, and they brought in a gigantic sports company/sports venue into the mix. They all decided to help the disabled Hero, and help make his life better. They didn’t just throw some money his way or send him an autographed photo. They decide to buy some land locally, build him a brand new specially-crafted custom smart home, (completely built to accommodate his disabilities), and to allow him to never need another home for the rest of his life while being self-sufficient.

As if this wasn’t enough? Our Actor and the foundation decided to put on a concert to honor the veteran hero, with the Actor’s personal band playing the whole show. All proceeds (not just profits, but every penny) from the show goes to the vet Hero. Not a fund or charity, but directly to the Hero in an account to pay his power bills, taxes, and necessities for many, many years. The Actor and the foundation are paying the band, all costs, and travel out of their own pocket. The Actor is using his own private jet to transport the band, equipment, and people all from his own pocket. All this while keeping his commitments to other charity work, his acting jobs, and his family.

And this still wasn’t enough for our Actor to feel he’d done all he could do. The Actor enlisted the foundation to buy a set of special “smart” prosthetic limbs for the hero, and paid for them. This was a huge upgrade from the basic prosthetics the vet was using. The foundation even covered the cost of the transportation for the Hero and his family to travel to the hospital and back for appointments. The support, bright prospects, and hope was enough to lift the hero out of depression and darkness he’d been suffering.

To show their support, the biggest sports facility nearest to the Hero’s hometown named the veteran Hero and the Actor as their grand marshals for the next event, and the Hero was the star VIP for the whole weekend. The owner of the sports complex even escorted the Hero around to meet all the star athletes and the Hero got photos and phone numbers from all his favorites. He even got to bring his family with him and they were all treated like royalty. The sports facility owner personally oversaw all accommodations and travel for the vet and family all weekend. They even talked the sports stars into donating, and hosted an auction of sports memorabilia to add to the funds raised for the Hero.

The concert tickets for the actor’s band sold out in a few hours, including the expensive VIP packages where fans could chat and talk with the A-list Actor. The Actor said he’d stay and chat with fans until the sun rose so long as people got their money’s worth for donating to such a good cause. The concert was planned for a local high school in the city where the sports event was to take place that weekend.

Unfortunately, a scary accident occurred the week of the planned concert. Our A-list Actor was involved in an auto accident that kept him from making it down for the concert or the weekend’s big sporting event. The Actor was banged up, but would be okay. Sadly he couldn’t travel for several days, and it made him feel guilty. Many stars with a busy acting schedule and personal life would just cut a check or try and weasel out of his responsibilities with a five-minute videoconference. Not this one. Our Actor was so upset about disappointing our veteran Hero that he personally called him to explain.

The Reader then proposed a new date for the concert. The Reader called a concert promoter pal hosting a local music festival in May, and they worked out the details. The festival is an annual event for charity anyway, and other charities could also benefit from the Actor’s show at the festival. The Actor then rescheduled the concert for the festival near the Hero’s hometown, and personally paid the expenses already laid out. He offered to buy back tickets for anyone unable to attend, and then set up a special pre-show dinner date party for VIP ticket-holders and our Hero. The Actor then canceled two other (non-charity) concerts his band had scheduled, all just to honor his promises to our Hero, while allowing the festival to promote his appearance to help other charities.

As a result, the show will go on. The upcoming new concert date has sold out again, and our veteran Hero is even considering some small acting roles he’s been offered, all thanks to our Actor and Reader. Meanwhile, the special smart house has already been designed, the land purchased, and suppliers lined up to start building this start of the art dream house. Both our Actor and our Reader said their only big regret is that they cannot do it for every single veteran who has served our country so honorably. But with our Actor’s foundation and partners, they’ll continue to help those that they can one by one.

It just goes to prove that there are still some good guys left in Hollywood, and some guys who are not just hypocritical attention trolls only in it for themselves. Despite the setbacks, the concert-festival will launch into orbit soon, and our veteran Hero will have his new magic house very soon. He’s already got his new magic legs All because some people cared enough to use their fame, money, and power to help others instead of preach to them or hurt them.


120 comments:

  1. And this is why Our Reader is so. fuckin. hot. It's not his looks. It's not his job. It's the soul that makes the man.

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  2. Gary Sinise is a good man.

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  3. And it's not shameless pandering. Facts is facts.

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  4. I can't stop crying.

    Good on the actor and reader! Thank you so much for helping our vets.

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  5. HOLY SHIT I GOT ONE!!!!

    Actor: Gary Sinise
    Wounded Soldier: Cpl. J.B. Kerns
    Sports location where they were grand marshal and VIPs: Martinsville Speedway

    Thank you so much for the kindness blind item, Enty. I am guessing the connection is from TG?

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  6. Thank you, Gary Sinise. Inspirational.

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  7. Gary Sinise is awesome!! LOVE HIM!!

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  8. Fabulous!

    Yea, Gary Sinise!

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  9. It's foggy here, I can hardly see.

    That story made my week, month, probably year. Fantastic!

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  10. I think my office just got super dusty all of a sudden...

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  11. Gary Sinise is the man!!!

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  13. This is awesome. I love it.

    Kudos to NASCAR for participating as well.

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  14. After the horrible blinds that have been posted the last couple of weeks, THANK YOU Enty for posting this one. I always knew Gary Sinise was one of the "good guys"!

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  15. I'm glad he was so nice to this vet. I know that GS cares a lot about vets and does a lot for them. However, my husband has met him and said he was not a nice person to "the help" (my husband is a producer and GS was on the show he worked on at the time).

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  16. http://www.mtairynews.com/view/full_story/17533730/article-Actor-coming-to-aid-of-wounded-local-soldier

    Full deets.

    Very nice.

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  17. That's wonderful. Wish things like this could happen to more veterans.

    Wouldn't it be amazing if E used 40 million dollars to help out vets, instead of giving it to Kardashians? Think of all the families they could help...

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  18. As the sister of a Marine that got hurt in Iraq from an explosive I cried like crazy reading this.

    To Our Reader and Our Actor:
    You are amazing and wonderful souls! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your charitable work.

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  19. I got one finally! Gary Sinise, he is well known for his support of vets. A an awesome dude. I remember reading about him doing these kind of thing in Guidepost.

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  20. Tears in eyes. Beautiful and inspirational. Respect for this actor just skyrocketed.

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  21. I thought of Gary Sinise even before I saw the part about the car accident. What a great guy!

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  22. Here are the details:

    http://www.garysinisefoundation.org/news_events

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  23. Agree with everything you all said. I need to compose myself now and wipe all the tears off my keyboard.

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  24. @RenoBlondee: hope your brother/sister is doing okay now.

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  25. made me tear up! love these kindness blinds

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  26. @Em
    Thank you so much, yes he is doing great. He has some permanent memory and hearing loss, but it could've been much worse. Only him and another survived out of their group of 6 other snipers. This blind really touches me so much.

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  27. Good work READER and GARY SNISE

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  28. Gary and his foundation are also helping a young man from my hometown, Kyle Hockenberry, who is a triple amputee as well.

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  29. Who's our Reader????? You shouldn't be anonymous fess up and accept the CDAN love

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  30. @RenoBlondee glad to hear your brother is hanging in there. **hugs** and tell him thank you so much for his service.

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  31. Thank you for sharing this today! =)

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  32. I have a feeling this may be Our Reader... http://www.classmates.com/people/Talley-Griffith/451941451

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  33. Same HS as, but older than, Cpl. J.B. Kerns.

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  34. Long, long time reader, first time commenting, Actor has to be Gary Sinise - one of the most incredible people I have ever met in my life - and I met him at a benefit concert at Camp Pendleton - his band is also amazing!!!! (I recently read on the devil's website aka Perez that Gary was involved in an accident and Perez had the nerve to make fun of Gary's band name...obviously Perez doesn't know what a WONDERFUL person Gary is)....

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  35. Also, this: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0341606/

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  36. Not even blind. But pretty great. Didn't Sinise donate his entire salary from one season of CSI to wounded vets a few years ago?

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  37. Well, this was a nice change of pace!

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  38. I'm a military wife, daughter and sister. There is a special place in Heaven for people like this, and everyone else who's ever done anything to support those who serve our country. Even if you once held open a door at the store for a tired mom with a husband you didn't know was deployed. There are no words for how much your support means to servicemen and women and their families. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

    I needed this today.

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  39. @Rubiy, your post made me tear up all over again. Thank you thank you to all the men in your family and to you for your sacrifice (and to all the other military families out there).

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  40. @Reno, now THAT makes me tear up. Hugs to you and your brother.

    @JustAnother13: hi, and welcome! If you're a long time reader, then you should know that Friends Don't Let Friends Read Perez. Stop now. ;)

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  41. What a blessing for this young hero!!! Thank you to all involved. Wow.!!!

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  42. @goheels and @emeyekay
    Thank you so much for your kind words!

    @Rubiy
    Thank you, and your family for serving as well.

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  43. Gary Sinise came to Savannah and played at one of the miltary bases here. I think Fort Stewart? and he gave a free concert for the community in the park. And it was an amazing show. It's obvious he loves to play, and his band is really really good. Lots of fun oldies in the mix. Definitely go if you get the chance. Yeah, he is one of the heroes. Of course, a lot of Forrest Gump was filmed in Savannah, and he had lots of cute comments about that from the stage. A great good vibe night.

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  44. I call bullshit.

    Just kidding!!!
    This is wonderful. And I have a similar story about my uncle. When he was 20 years old, he was wounded in Korea and became a quadriplegic. I don't know the exact chain of events, but his town of Leonia, New Jersey got together, donated, volunteered, bought his acre plot, and built him a wheelchair accessible house. I'm not sure when, but he fell in love with one of the nurses who cared for him in the hospital and they married. His life expectancy was no more than 15 years, but he made it 50. They divorced and while the rest of the family turned against her, he always lovingly said that she kept him alive by the way she took care of him and taught the live-in nurses who took her place. He left everything to her in his will and she is now living in the house.
    We may not be famous or rich, but that shows that all of us have the power to accomplish what Gary Sinise does. Can anyone hear his name and not think of Lieutenant Dan?

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  45. Man, what a great story! Guess he really took that Lieutenant Dan role to heart!

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  46. I think the Hero in question is actually Lance Corporal Juan Dominguez. I can't copy and paste the link from my iPhone, but google his name and the second result is an imdb article about Gary Sinise holding a benefit concert to raise money to buy him a state of the art home.
    I freaking love Gary Sinise. I remember having an inappropriate crush on him after I saw "Of mice and men" as a child. And Lt. Dan is just HAWT. Oh, and anonymous reader? You are awesome, thank you for helping to make this happen.

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  47. Love it! More great blinds like this!

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  48. Ok wow, I googled JB Kerns and it turns out that he is also a triple amputee, and that Gary Sinise is holding a benefit to build his home as well! Apparently the 2 charities together are doing this for like 2 dozen wounded vets this year. What an amazing group of people!

    I think Gary may have just been promoted to the laminated copy of my Freebie Five. I'll inform the husband that Johnny Depp is out and Gary Sinise is in.

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  49. Thank you Enty for giving us a happy ending to Freak Week.

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  50. Thank you Our Reader! You did something amazing by calling Gary and getting this all set up with him. Actions definately speak louder than words.

    I am grateful and thankful for your kindness and mostly for following thru.

    The fact that this Hero will be able to afford to live in his awesome house for years is the best!!! How many families from that house show have bailed because they couldn't afford to live in the massive homes built for them (I don't know the show name but that obnoxious Ty is in it).

    Love and blessing to you and your families.

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  51. Dear Veterans,
    Thank You! Welcome Home!

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  52. This made me ball my eyes out. I LOVE Gary Sinise. It's wonderful to see these rich actors putting their money to an amazing cause.

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  53. Gary Sinese is a Great American!

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  54. Am I the only one who thought that the reader contributor could be Hmmm?

    http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/11/30/president-uso-praises-hollywood-for-its-support-american-troops/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fentertainment+%28Internal+-+Entertainment+-+Mixed%29

    Am I way off base?

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  55. God bless the Reader, Gary Sinise, and whoever this particular veteran may be. In fact, God bless all our veterans.

    BTW, Perez Hilton probably doesn't like Sinise because Sinise is right of center politically.

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  56. Before anyone turns this into a game of Clue - it was NOT ME who is the Reader. (But it may have been an ex-Himmmm, just not the present ME Himmmm). None of this is about me - it is about that amazing Marine and the guys who are helping him. I know this for a fact.

    So just let me say:
    Way to go pal!
    I am so very honored and humbled to proudly admit that I know these guys personally. So well in fact they can convince the most jaded star to dig deep, (and many have signed over residual checks just out of guilt!). Although I know they’d protest at any publicity for their work - they deserve it (as does everyone who does any kindness for our true heroes).

    There is nothing Gary would not do within his power to help someone so deserving. Likewise, knowing the Reader - whom I should begrudge for roping me into some crazy schemes of his - I also know he is an amazingly stubborn person. He could sell ice to Eskimos and talk Michael Jordan into paying retail for his own Air Jordans! So thank you my friend for helping others, the next round is on me.

    As my friend would say, it is so nice to see Enty giving us a brain bleach/soul squeegee after the past week or two. It even makes ME misty-eyed. Sorry I’ve missed the fun here lately, but I’m currently in friggin’ Azerbijanilawishistan opening a 7-Eleven right now. Okay, maybe not a quick-mart - but it is beginning to feel like it! Can’t wait to get home and back to the normal insanity of Crazywood. Wouldn’t it be great if gossip items like these wound up on tabloid sites and web forums instead of the others? Meanwhile, I hope you all are well. And once more...I’m so proud of you. Way to go my friend. YOU...rock!

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  57. Because I don't have the celebrity to do those kinds of things, as awesome as that would be, I make a point of thanking anyone I see wearing a vet's cap or uniform, or when I find out in conversation. As the granddaughter of an immigrant who became a seebee in WWII as a thank you to the US, I love anyone with the balls to serve.

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  58. <3 Himmmmm.

    Love to see you pop in every now and then.

    The Mt Airy location was a dead giveaway for the Reader. Good people.

    (On a completely separate note...and I know this is the most inappropriate thread to put it in, but I have been looking for you to post for a while. My friend and I were wondering if you would ever be willing to shed some light into the Kirk Douglas / Jean Spangler situation (in a separate post, of course)).

    Have a great weekend and safe travels, my friend.

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  59. I hope CSI NY somehow gets renewed! I know it is a longshot, but you like to see actors with hearts like Gary's being rewarded - and to our reader, thank you as well! You must have read our grumbling about all the sick blinds of late!

    My parents are buried in Arlington. We always used to go to Pearl Harbor every 12/7 when we moved to Hawaii. The vets were always so supportive and shocked by the love. I still go back in their honor. One day I hope to make it to Normandie while the vets are still alive, just to say thank you!

    To all our vets and families of vets, thank you for serving our country! And a special thanks to rubiy and your family and Reno Blondee and yours! Glad your brother is one of the lucky ones!!

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  60. This really warms my heart, mind and soul <3

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  61. I would take a grenade for Gary Sinise and I'm not even Bruno Marx. What a mensch. Oh dear, what's that pain in my chest? A heartbeat?

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  62. I am so happy to have read such a beautiful story. I think we all get busy with life and forget the value of living our actual life. With all of the dark, shallow celebrity blogs and gossip we read and hear, it sure is amazing to see the beauty that humanity has to offer. Thanks for brightening my day:)

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  63. Didn't Denis Leary also start an organization named after a fallen firefighter on 9-11?

    Boy, this was needed. I love my gossip but lately - UGH. Most nights I want to dunk my head in ice water after reading so much sludge.

    Thank you to those of you that help and care. Don't be shy in letting us know what we can do to help.

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  64. What a lovely story. We really needed it after all the ugliness we've read this week. There is a special spot in heaven for the Reader and Gary. And they all did it for the thrill of helping a human being and not to show how "wonderful" they are. Yeah, think of all those "reality stars" who make $40Million dollars and do nothing but promote themselves. How nice it would be if they gave 1/40th of their income to help a someone who really needed it.

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  65. Anonymous12:53 PM

    This has got to be Gary Sinise. I love that man. My sister (in the Air Force)met him and had nothing but the nicest things to say about how genuine and gracious he was to EVERYone.

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  66. Yay! Awesome, thank you Enty. Whew. We all needed that one.

    And to all this I say:

    STOP THIS STUPID UN-WINNABLE "WAR" AND BRING OUR MEN AND WOMEN HOME!!!

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  67. Sending huge love to Gary and our Reader, and all who help and support our military and their families.

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  68. @CK76 - You are not off-base. The first paragraph has been changed since it was originally posted, and the original post implied heavily that Reader was at least one incarnation of a resident commenter.

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  69. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  70. Gary Sinise is awesome, Reader is awesome, and regardless of what people think, the men and women of NASCAR are amazing. They ALWAYS make sure to honor the military and military families.

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  71. Dennis Leary started his firefighters' foundation after six firefighters were killed in a Worcester MA fire; one was his cousin and one a childhood friend.

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  72. Yea! WTG Gary & co. for putting this together. Definitely a nice way to start the weekend.

    @Amber -- nice sleuthing!

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  73. Well this was a nice change of pace ... I'm relatively new to this site, and admittedly I was pulled in by the smuttier blinds, but this one made my day. :)

    So much love to the anonymous Reader and the not-so-anonymous Actor too.

    Also, a big thank you and much love to our troops & their families (I'm a canuck, but I'm addressing this to all of our troops). I have nothing but respect and gratitude for these brave men & women. I don't think the rest of us civilians will ever fully realize the magnitude of your sacrifice!

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  74. This is the first I've ever heard of this. Just another reason I read this site every day with my tea. Bless you, Gary Sinise, I'll be supporting your work and telling others to do so. Thanks, Enty, 'Reader,' and Himmmm!

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  75. OMG, this makes me so happy. I'm bawling my eyes out (in the best way). This is how you should end things on Fridays, Enty! ;-)

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  76. Crying here at home - Saturday in Australia thank goodness. Thank you for doing this Gary Sinise, your band members, your friends and unknown reader. My dad served in Vietnam. Luckily he came back as good as anyone is going to be when they have seen combat. Visited Vietnam last year - it was very emotional for me but gave me a lot of closure as well. My heart goes out to all families and friends of military personnel. May all wars end and everyone come home.

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  77. Gary Sinese has helped wounded vets all over the country. He also has helped raise money for Chicago's Police Memorial Foundation.

    I've been lucky enough to meet him at a couple of events. I always told people he was my "Sexiest Men Alive." His kindness towards other makes him much more sexy than Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling, etc.

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  78. Gary Sinise has a lookalike who is a pharmacist at my local CVS. Every time I go in there with my sister in law we giggle like teeny boppers over him.

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  79. It's nice to cry for a good reason like this.

    Wish more stars would take notice and copy their deeds, small price to pay for those who get hurt or die for our freedom

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  80. Amazing story. I was feeling a bit down today and reading this has cheered me up considerably. Gary you rock!

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  81. Glad this war hero got his "magic legs" indeed :)

    good to know there are still good guys out there.

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  82. Happy Friday everyone!

    Normally I'm just a lurker (LOVE this site, by the way!), but I had to comment on this BI, and share a funny story you you great folks.

    I'm a veteran as well, and I was stationed in the middle east from 12/02 - 03/04. Many stars visited during then, but no one was as up close and personal as Gary Sinise. This guy was actually in the PX, just hanging out at the front of the store! Want to talk or an autograph? Walk right up! As a big fan, of course I was there to get a couple moments of stalking in. :) Gary cared about where we were all from, how we were handling our deployment, and our overall morale. I don't think he ever stopped smiling. However, there was a man standing next to him who wasn't as jovial. Not at all, in fact. He was wearing a god-awful powder blue suit, and kept his hands in his pockets. And even though I recognized him, he did nothing to interact with anyone. A couple of soldier approached him, only to ask if they could take a picture with Gary. Boy does obscurity sting. The clearly audible crowd dialogue went as such:

    "Who's the suit?"

    "I don't know. I think it's Gary's bodygaurd."

    "Maybe...He looks like a dick."

    The blue suit guy pissed he wasn't recognized? Chris Issak.

    Back to the point -- God bless you Gary Sinese!

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    1. Nerdnoir, thanks for your service! Everyone seems to come to ATL these days and I have 5 cute doggies - which we have for companions, but I have learned that people love them, great conversation starters. Bottom line, "they" met Chris and he was lovely...of course I had no idea til later that was the person who stopped to talk.

      Basically, I have learned that everyone has a bad day, and hopefully his awful attitude was due to a turbulent plane flight or something...

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  83. Thank you for this heart warming boost to my day, it is SO good to see good coming out of H'wood for a change!

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  84. When I watched The Ice Storm, I realized that Ang Lee was a visionary and he instantly became my favorite director for life. The same thing happened a few years earlier with Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump. He made me sit up, rub my eyes in disbelief, and realize that not all actors are created equal. He is a BEAST of a performer, and to know that he has the compassion to do things like this, and not to just 'do' them, but to DO them, is making my heart inflate three sizes too big. And Our Reader, whomever you are: thank you. Thank you for working so hard to change this man's life. You didn't have to, but you did it anyway. You're basically a real life Santa Claus. And to both Our Reader and Mr. Sinise: Thank you for realizing just how much help this man will need. It is one thing (albeit a beautiful one) to help. It is a whole other ballpark to endeavor the way they have, all in order to take some of the lifetime load off this brave young man's plate. Man, I think I'm verklempt.

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  85. Thank you, Enty. We all needed this.

    Thank you Gary, Thank you Reader. God bless you all.

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  86. Thank you for listening to us, Enty, and gifting us this doozy of a kindness blind.

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  87. I too am smearing my makeup over this one (in a good way). My friends think I’m having a nervous breakdown b/c I’m crying at the story but laughing at the sweet comments too! Since we put so much work into unmasking evil stuff, thought I’d put some work into unmasking good things as well. For those who have asked here - or those just wondering, there are indeed things we all can do to help (ANYONE can do it!). Yes, money is tight these days, but it’s not just money that helps. Anyone with any or zero money can still help someone out.

    Pick or choose your ways:
    1. If you have the money, even ten or twenty bucks, you can donate to the Sinise Foundation, or the Siller Tunnel 2 Towers Foundation (both are doing this project together). Or donate to any of the dozens of legit, worthy charities doing the same thing to help our wounded warriors. Just the cash I’d piss away on dinner this weekend can help THEM. So I’ll eat Ramen noodles this weekend instead of eating out. Or you can visit the webpages of Sinise or the Siller Charity or others and just drop them a note to encourage them, thank them, and let them know you support their hard work.

    2. If you live anywhere in south Virginia or Northern North Carolina you can contact the festival where Lt. Dan and his band will play. There may still be a few tickets or VIP packages still available (as they sometimes hold some back for the last few weeks). And if you see Gary Sinise in person? Thank him for me and from the CDAN Lurkers Caucus (like me) for being so awesome!

    3. Send a care package to someone serving overseas. Find out what you can send there, and what they might want - and pick a vet to send it to. OR send a care package to a vet in the hospital, and let them know you are proud of them and their sacrifice.

    4. Send a hand-made card or letter to a service member in a war. Or send one directly to them in their hospital or their military base. Or you can email a letter to the editor of your newspaper just to remind people to support the troops and not forget about them. Forget the politics, blames, or pulpits. Just a simple letter thanking those who serve will remind others and make them feel loved.

    5. Email someone serving in the military, especially overseas. Even if they don’t know you a “thank you” will make them know they are appreciated. There’s dozens of websites and blogs dedicated to pen pals and emails of service members.

    6. You can also go to the websites for Walter Reed Hospital and even a nearby V.A. hospital. You can contact them and see if there’s a vet there who maybe is lonely or doesn’t have family or who may need a kind word or letter. Just a simple thank you would help.

    7. As one lady said, even say hello, let someone else go first in traffic or the checkout line, or just hold open a door for someone - especially if you know they are in service or a family member. Heck, I guess even doing it for a total stranger has the same effect. Cheesy as it sounds, it spreads goodness around and costs NOTHING.

    I don’t know Gary Sinise or Reader or Enty or any of them personally. But I think they’d all be pleased if they inspired us to do any of the above. THAT is true celebrity marketing at its best!

    I know that anytime in the future that if Sinise is in any movie, I’ll go to see it even if I have to wait until another movie comes on Direct TV to see. Maybe it is silly, but I’m glad to support a man who uses the money he makes in movies to help so many others!

    Sorry so long, just wanted to throw this out there. I donated to the Sinise charity today just because I read this blind item. Since I know this money is going to help the heroes I feel good about it (and not so guilty about my celebrity gossip addiction now -LOL). So thank you for that Enty (and Reader and all of you peeps!). Okey-doke - back to my lurking now.

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  88. Count me in as part of the many who needed this. Gotta love Lieutenant Dan. A true hero to heroes, when politics has eff all to do with being a decent human being.

    Love from the UK, I am a person who supports our combined troops regardless of my feelings on the war. Those amazing men and women choose to protect our countries, and that deserves nothing less than total respect. Special love to my courageous brother.

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  89. Lol nerdnoir. The powder blue suit wasn't a dead giveaway?

    It's nice to know there are still some amazing people out there.

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  91. Anonymous5:50 PM

    Awwww, what a wonderful post! The Lt. Dan Band was just here at our Air Force base almost a month ago where they gave a free concert for the troops and their families. Unfortunately, I couldn't go because my husband is deployed to the Middle East and nobody was available for child care. Lol! I couldn't even get upset about it since my usual sitters were going to the concert! (I didn't want to take my kids and then worry about their hearing - I'm OCD in that way.) All I heard was how professional and kind all the members of the Lt. Dan Band were to the base personnel and families. Such a class act!

    Anyway, YAY for these wonderful people!!!!!! Every time I start feeling jaded about Hollywood people, some amazing act of kindness gets revealed. However, this one blows them all away!!

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  92. Nerdnoir, God bless you and thank you for everything. I am truly appreciative.

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  93. @kimcalled, awesome post

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  94. It is so nice to hear some kindness especially involving some of armed service folks. Bravo to Gary and all who have helped them. There are so many wounded soldiers, though, it is heartbreaking. About 6 mo ago my baby brother was critically wounded In Afghanistan. I spent 10 days with him as he recovered in BAMC. It was a hallowing but eye opening experience. The number of young amputees and burn victims is staggering. The support services while they are 'stationed' there and recovering is very good and the people of San Antonio are great folks to them. But i so worry for when they leave and try and fall back into society. Ugh, I listened to family members plan of how to spend their wounded soldiers hazard pay on Hummers and crap.

    Also the wounded warrior project - they are legit. My brother came back to the US with nothing. Not even a stitch of clothing. The wounded warrior project and local san antonio volunteer groups gave him clothes, bags, toiletries and the minimal necessities. And by the by, he didn't get his wallet back for at least a month, but even then he was lucky to get back. Most soldiers stuff gets stolen by their own if they are wounded that seriously. Yep, makes me sick to my stomach. So thanks to all you folks that support these service men and women. They do need it and deserve it.

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  95. Thank you for the Kindness, Enty - it was much needed!

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  96. Bless you for posting this, Enty (God only knows we needed after the last few weeks of unremitting sleaze...), and more blessings to the Reader, Gary, and everyone else involved...damn, I'm getting all verklempt now. *sniff* And hello again to Himmmm--always good to hear from you, and hope to see more of you when you're back from your latest adventure!

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  97. From Enty to the Hero to the Reader to the Actor to all of You, thanks for focusing on the good in people. So much bad news every day... comforting and inspiring to know all of You are on the planet!

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  98. This is a wonderful story! I was never that cynical to think ALL celebs were self absorbed.

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  99. Here's the confirmation - see the last paragraph...

    http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/news/bcnews/8677.htm

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  100. I love this story. I adore Gary S. My cousin was in Afghanistan and had a similar situation. He lost both legs and was blessed with sports type prosthetics from a very generous donor. After his intense therapy he was able to still enjoy rock climbing and other activities. I am just thankful that there are people out there with the means to help our soldiers and who love our country so much!Loved this blind!!!!

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  101. It been a long week and a very long day so it was wonderful to see such a fantastic blind. Gary Sinise is an amazing soul. And thanks for clarification AGAIN, Himmmm.

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  102. thank you Gary. Thank you Reader Friend. Thank you Enty. And thank you to all of you in the service. I needed this Enty... please reveal some time. :) xoxoxo

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  103. I also applaud this story...and Gary Sinise has done a wonderful thing.

    Unfortunately, he is not as good to everyone in his life. I have a very juicy piece of bad behavior on him based on a personal experience on a movie set. As we are focusing on the good, I will save that story for another day.

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  104. So happy to read this! Thank you Gary for supporting these amazing men and women. We need more like you! The soldiers sacrifice so much to do a job they may not believe in and they get screwed when they come home. Totally unacceptable IMO.

    I've done work to help returning soldiers with PTSD and wish we had more programs to ease them back into civilian life. So thanks Gary and Reader and Enty for talking about this. A little support at the return makes a huge difference down the road.

    I'm the proud daughter of a vet. We buried him at Arlington two years ago. Love you Dad!

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  105. PS -thanks @kimcalled for your post. Great suggestions!

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  106. LOVE this blind!! So great to hear about people with the ability (beyond that of the average person) making a difference in our veterans lives!!
    Any little thing to thank these people and lift their spirits is worth it! Do what you can like others have mentioned in the comments. I send Christmas cards to the deployed forces every year, and I have all the students at my work do it too so about 200 active duty and deployed members get a thank you note for being away from home!

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  107. I follow Gary Sinise on twitter, so no, this wasn't a blind at all for me. Also, he was on the LA area news because he went to the Temecula City Council himself to get a special permit to do a benefit concert there so they could build a custom home for a double amputee in that city. This is his cause, and bless him, he does it tirelessly. It's just a shame he supports politicians who want to cut funding for Veterans returning home (admittedly, the Dems are only marginally better, gawd I hate Washington DC).

    I've long thought there was something very sexy about him, along with Ed Harris. Woof, I need to get my silk fan just thinking about them...

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  108. Gary Sinise, obviously. He is a good man indeed. What a pleasure to read.

    Thanks Enty, you've made my day with this one.

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  109. Gary Sinise is a wonderful human being.

    Too bad Hmmmm is stealing some of Gary's glory for himself. None of this is insider info. If we tally up all these Hmmmm assisted blinds, we get an attention whore who tarts up old Enty blinds or makes up his comments out of whole cloth.

    As much as everyone admires Sinise, remember that Hmmmm is also makes his imprint here as the lover of female degradation and incest fascination.

    Don't confuse one with the other. Get a Griff.

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  111. what an amazing story.

    with many relatives currently serving, thank you to Gary Sinise and Reader (and Enty for sharing).

    much love to all of you.

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  112. Coriander, I'm not buying it. I've shown in a couple of BIs how Hmmmm's posts couldn't possibly be true (and Enty's blinds.)

    Hmmmm allowed everyone to think he was RDJ for his own kicks. He NEVER disavowed anyone of that notion. He was playing games with people here.

    He's also an attention whore of the first order, who condemns the same practices he obviously revels in.

    I appreciate your myth. It's a nice one, but someone is taking advantage of you, and a lot of CDAN readers, here.

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  113. After reading and researching the subject of Afghanistan and Iraq the only conclusion is that it was an illegal invasion. The story is kind but the writing of it is so loaded with words that negate and hide the fact that it was illegal and for gain. I feel so sorry for people who have been used as pawns and end up losing everything. Along with the poor ordinary folk who are doing nothing other than living in their own country who not only lose limbs and babies but have their whole family wiped out. Patriotism is a dangerous drug if it means you can say one person's life is more important than another who happens not to have the same passport. It's how the nazis operated. Sad world.

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  114. @plot:
    dear plot -
    i was going to write a long message telling you exactly what I think of you and your callous, jealous, bitter venom - but then I realized you probably are one of those sad people who live just to upset others and tell everyoen how stupid we are - like those people who protest at veterans funerals.

    instead I decided I will not let you upset me or ruin my positive thoughts or the warmth shared by all those good people on this site.
    I just want you to know that you should just go somewhere else, back to your own blog where you ridicule and put down everyone and everything, or back to the gossip site you host. your blog is filled with your failed and lame attempts at being cool, funny, intelligent, and so hip. I’m sure you live such a happy life and others just flock to hear your wisdom!

    CDAN has always been nice to trolls and even hate-mongers, but when people go out of their way to give there time and money to help a disabled soldier, like Sinise, the Reader, Enty or anyone else has done - and you come in here and call them a whore and put them down? that is just disgusting and sickening. if you don't like it just stfu or try to disagree in a kidn way and not try to run people down. i’m sure karma will return to you the fruits of what you sow.

    if you think Enty and all us commenters are such frauds and panderers and fame whores, why don’t you leave. why don’t you post your own real name, address, or even your own email on your own blog either? but I guess you’re too cool for that. i’m not witty, cool, hipster, and so-called funny like you - and I’m sure none of us are good enough to be on your level according to you. especially me, since I’m just a dumb brainwashed girl right? and we're not smart and clever enough to be like you, since we all fall for the myths which you come here to save us from right? give me a break! so just leave us so-called pathetic fools and "housewives" to our own community and go back to wherever you came from to see which of your hipster uber-smart cronies are the coolest as you make fun of us. the people here are kind, warm, generous, thoughtful, and like each other even when we disagree. our readers, their friends, and enty have proven that they are willing to help others and be a positive benefit in the lives of those in need. it inspires and lifts people up, including me. which is more than I can say for you and your negative hateful, rude, and ignorant attacks on good people who do good deeds.

    i always love it when people show there true colors and what they are made of. some do this by helping others in need - while other people try to insult those good people. you have shown to the world which type of person you are. so you have a real super duper day!

    PS. for all the CDAN regulars and nice people? i apologize for the rant and feeding the trolls. sometimes some things just irk the crap out of me!

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  115. The easiest one Enty ever posted.

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  116. Just FYI, this is being featured on 60 Minutes right now (5/13). So inspiring.

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  117. He also did this for another vet that had similar circumstances in the Pittsburgh area a few years ago! Bless u Gary, and keep on doing great work to help our veterans!

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