RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
His love of comedy started as a kid, he said, remembering specifically the day his friend popped in a cassette of Bill Cosby over lunch in the 9th grade. Two hours and two missed class periods later, the now Maj. Jose Sarduy, an instructor pilot with Laughlin's 96th Flying Training Squadron, had discovered his passion.
Sarduy, who left active duty for the Air Force Reserves in 2008, now travels with the GIs of Comedy, a comedic collaboration of five veterans from every branch of the military.
The GIs of Comedy will come to the River Center Comedy Club Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door. Veterans get in free with their military ID, by RSVP'ing in advance by to GIsofComedy@gmail.com.
In addition to Sarduy, the other GIs of Comedy are Thom Tran, a former U.S. Army staff sergeant; G Reilly, a former U.S. Navy petty officer second class; Will C, a former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant; and Tom Irwin, a former U.S. Army private first class.
The troupe was put together in early 2011 by Tran who remembered the positive impact that visiting celebrities and shows had on deployed service members.
After the success of the first show, the group knew they wanted to do something bigger with it.
"Once we had our first event, we wanted to find a charity we could partner with that meant something to us and our audience," said Sarduy. The USO quickly came to mind.
Now, portions of the proceeds from each show go to benefit the work of the USO.