What USMC 250th Birthday Means to me
I was awakened by sounds of a foot kicking open my bedroom door. “Rise and shine!” bellowed a voice. “It’s 9AM. You’ve wasted half the day!” Welcome to the Connolly house on Saturday morning. Unbeknownst to me, I was being raised by the cadence of the United States Marine Corps.
My father and 2 of his brothers served in the Corps. I grew up listening to their stories wondering if I had what it takes to be a Marine. I don’t know if I would have taken the leap of faith into Stand Up Comedy if not for the Marines. The Corps first tested my Comedic mettle as the Judge of the Kangaroo Court of the Officers of 3rd Battalion 5th Marines. (For National Security reasons, what took place inside that Courtroom can never be spoken of.)
During Desert Storm my CO asked me to write him “roast style” jokes for a gathering, in an attempt to help bond the recently attached reserve officers to our Battalion. But an “ask” by a Colonel is not an ask, it is a direct order to make him funny.
As a professional Stand Up Comedian, I have always carried a Marine frame of mind into the chaotic world of live Comedy. “These are the conditions I find myself in. These are the conditions I will excel in.”
The Marine Corps has been the throughput of my life. I come from a family of Marines. I served as an Infantry Officer in Desert Storm. As a Comedian I have made 7 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan to entertain the troops. I continue to serve by raising money for Marine and Veteran charities and one of my former Lieutenants is now a 3 star General. (That’s right Lt. General Turner… you used to work for me!)
Happy 250th Birthday to an institution which has shaped me, defined me, pushed me in to uncharted territory and forces me to still workout daily to keep a bicep large enough to carry the USMC tattoo on my arm.
Semper Fi!
About The Author
James P. Connolly is a stand-up comedian and radio/TV host known for his playful, confident style and quick wit. He attended Harvard University on a Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship. While serving in Desert Storm, he was ordered to write jokes for a Colonel. Arriving in Hollywood, he began to perform at LA's major comedy venues and soon popped up on television, commercials and in small films.
James has appeared on America’s Got Talent, Comedy Central, HBO, in the Netflix series, “Larry Charles: Dangerous World of Comedy”, and on the Audible Audio Documentary, “Strong Ending”. James can be heard daily on SiriusXM Comedy Channels, has hosted “Live From Here” for National Lampoon XM Radio, and recorded a “Blue Collar Radio Comedy Concert” for SiriusXM, He produces an annual Veterans Day Comedy Show benefiting the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP).
