Meet Joseph Malinowsky, a Florida resident often referred to as the real-life 'Lieutenant Dan' for his daring stunts of riding out hurricanes aboard his small sailboat. The 54-year-old, who gained social media fame through TikTok posts, recently stayed on his boat during two major hurricanes, ignoring evacuation warnings and documenting the storms for his followers.
Malinowsky became an online sensation in the days leading up to Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that battered Florida’s Gulf Coast. Despite pleas from authorities to seek shelter, he chose to remain on his boat, facing the storm’s powerful winds head-on.
X users have likened Malinowsky to Forrest Gump’s fictional character Lieutenant Dan, a Vietnam veteran played by Gary Sinise, who also rode out a storm in the movie. Some conspiracy theorists have even linked his actions to the character, suggesting, “Lieutenant Dan was a psyop. He was named after the character because of his similarities—being disabled and living on a boat. In the movie, Lt. Dan fought in the Vietnam War, where they used a weather modification program called Operation Popeye. Still think Hurricane Milton and Helene were natural?”
In Forrest Gump, Lieutenant Dan Taylor serves as Forrest's platoon leader during the Vietnam War and later becomes his shrimp boat partner. Malinowsky’s followers see a parallel between his life on the water and the film’s character, but Malinowsky has his own reasons for staying.
Despite his defiance and viral fame, Malinowsky’s recent escapades landed him in trouble. Arrest records from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office show he was arrested Friday for trespassing and for failing to appear in court on charges related to operating an unregistered vehicle and lacking a valid driver’s license.
Speaking to CBS News after Hurricane Milton, Malinowsky remained unfazed by the storm, describing the experience as “pretty mellow” even as his boat repeatedly slammed against a harbor wall. To prevent further damage, he cut his anchor line, sacrificing a $250 anchor. “I was getting bashed against this wall, so I went out and cut my anchor line to get away from it,” he explained.
Malinowsky attributed his calmness to his faith, saying, “God told me to come here.” He recounted his move from Colorado to Florida five years ago, adding, “I’ve been in Florida for five years, stuck on the East Coast. I found this boat for 1,200 bucks. I bought it. I come to Tampa, and guess what? Can’t flood, not today, not yesterday.”
As of Saturday, Malinowsky remained in jail, according to online records. No attorney was listed to represent him.
In an interesting twist, Gary Sinise, the actor who portrayed Lieutenant Dan in the 1994 film, was serving lunch to deputies in Pinellas County, a neighboring area to Hillsborough County, on the same day Malinowsky was arrested.
The sheriff’s office posted on Facebook, saying, “We were honored to have Gary Sinise himself, the actor who portrayed the iconic Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump, in attendance and even serving our members, showing his unwavering support for our law enforcement community. Your generosity and kindness mean the world to us!”
Malinowsky became an online sensation in the days leading up to Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that battered Florida’s Gulf Coast. Despite pleas from authorities to seek shelter, he chose to remain on his boat, facing the storm’s powerful winds head-on.
X users have likened Malinowsky to Forrest Gump’s fictional character Lieutenant Dan, a Vietnam veteran played by Gary Sinise, who also rode out a storm in the movie. Some conspiracy theorists have even linked his actions to the character, suggesting, “Lieutenant Dan was a psyop. He was named after the character because of his similarities—being disabled and living on a boat. In the movie, Lt. Dan fought in the Vietnam War, where they used a weather modification program called Operation Popeye. Still think Hurricane Milton and Helene were natural?”
Lieutenant Dan was a psyop.
— The Maverick Approach (@Maveapproach) October 13, 2024
He was named after the character lieutenant Dan in the movie Forest Gump because of his similarities being disabled and lives on a boat.
In the movie, LT. Dan fought in the Vietnam war where they used a weather modification program called operation… pic.twitter.com/BSgFlp9cFy
In Forrest Gump, Lieutenant Dan Taylor serves as Forrest's platoon leader during the Vietnam War and later becomes his shrimp boat partner. Malinowsky’s followers see a parallel between his life on the water and the film’s character, but Malinowsky has his own reasons for staying.
Despite his defiance and viral fame, Malinowsky’s recent escapades landed him in trouble. Arrest records from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office show he was arrested Friday for trespassing and for failing to appear in court on charges related to operating an unregistered vehicle and lacking a valid driver’s license.
Lieutenant dan was arrested for not relocating his boat, which caused a public hazard in florida due to its poor hygienic condition 👮⛓️🛥️ pic.twitter.com/oiPUhCinSU
— __PlugTalk__ (@__plugtalk__) October 18, 2024
Speaking to CBS News after Hurricane Milton, Malinowsky remained unfazed by the storm, describing the experience as “pretty mellow” even as his boat repeatedly slammed against a harbor wall. To prevent further damage, he cut his anchor line, sacrificing a $250 anchor. “I was getting bashed against this wall, so I went out and cut my anchor line to get away from it,” he explained.
Malinowsky attributed his calmness to his faith, saying, “God told me to come here.” He recounted his move from Colorado to Florida five years ago, adding, “I’ve been in Florida for five years, stuck on the East Coast. I found this boat for 1,200 bucks. I bought it. I come to Tampa, and guess what? Can’t flood, not today, not yesterday.”
As of Saturday, Malinowsky remained in jail, according to online records. No attorney was listed to represent him.
In an interesting twist, Gary Sinise, the actor who portrayed Lieutenant Dan in the 1994 film, was serving lunch to deputies in Pinellas County, a neighboring area to Hillsborough County, on the same day Malinowsky was arrested.
The sheriff’s office posted on Facebook, saying, “We were honored to have Gary Sinise himself, the actor who portrayed the iconic Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump, in attendance and even serving our members, showing his unwavering support for our law enforcement community. Your generosity and kindness mean the world to us!”
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