Gary Sinise Says It Took 2 Decades for Wounded Veteran to Accept Gift of a New Home

Gary Sinise first crossed paths with Sgt. Joe Bowser nearly two decades ago, not long after the Army reservist lost his leg in a rocket attack in Iraq. The Oscar-winning actor, now 70, and Bowser quickly formed a friendship — one that would later deepen as both endured the unimaginable loss of their sons to cancer.

“Yes, he’s a movie star, but Gary’s always been a big brother, and he’s an amazing, amazing man,” says Bowser, 65. “I leaned on him when our son was going through cancer, and at times he probably leaned on me when Mac, his son, was going through his cancer.”

Their tragedies came just months apart. Bowser’s son, Justin, died of stomach cancer at age 39 on Nov. 27, 2023. Sinise’s son, Mac, passed from bone cancer at age 33 on Jan. 5, 2024.

Over the years, as their friendship strengthened, Sinise often thought Bowser would be the ideal candidate for the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment), which builds custom, accessible homes for wounded veterans. But Bowser always insisted the help should go to someone else.

It took almost 20 years for him to finally say yes.

“Joe always was powering through,” Sinise explains. “A lot of veterans feel their injury isn’t severe enough to deserve something like a specially adapted home.” But the foundation, he says, bases decisions on need and the opportunity to truly improve a veteran’s life.

On Nov. 18, Bowser and his wife, Michele, will receive the keys to their new 2,991-square-foot, single-story ranch in Tennessee, near Fort Campbell.

“When Joe said, ‘Maybe I’ll take you up on that,’ I was more than ready,” Sinise says. The couple had been living in a nearly 200-year-old West Virginia home with tight hallways and an unsafe second floor that Bowser could no longer access.

“I’ve always been a giver, and it’s hard to be a receiver,” Bowser admits. The reality of a home designed for his mobility needs is “overwhelming.”

The new house will be the 100th custom home built by the foundation — a milestone that Sinise says is meaningful but also a reminder of the many veterans still in need.

Bowser’s service began in 1980, followed by years in the Army Reserves. After 9/11, he reenlisted, deploying to Iraq in 2004. Just months later, a 122-millimeter rocket exploded behind him, leaving his leg too damaged to save.

Doctors gave him a choice, and Bowser didn’t hesitate. “They said if I had it amputated, I’d be able to do everything I did before,” he recalls. “I said, ‘Well, I want to continue to play hockey.’ So I had my leg cut off.”

He kept that promise to himself and continued playing recreational hockey — but at home, mobility became dangerous. Narrow halls, steep stairs, and limitations on wheelchair use made daily tasks difficult. Both Bowser and his wife had fallen on the stairs. Keeping up with their 10 grandchildren, who love exploring the upper floor, had become nearly impossible.

Their new home changes everything. It’s fully accessible, all on one level, with wide hallways, lowered cabinetry, and a shower with a heated bench.

“It will be freedom,” Bowser says. “There’s no place in that house that I can’t get to. I’m getting choked up talking about it. This is a new chapter, and it’s going to be amazing.”

Sinise, who was inspired to champion veterans after portraying Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011 to unite citizens and companies in supporting service members. His mission is deeply rooted in ensuring that no veteran feels forgotten.

“When soldiers returned from Vietnam, there weren’t many services for them, and the nation was divided,” Sinise says. “We don’t want that to happen again. If you volunteer to serve our country, we want you to know that you’re not forgotten.”

He adds, “It’s incredibly moving to see people come together to take care of someone who’s sacrificed so much.”