Jay Lawrence: From Combat Veteran to Stand Up Comic

We first interviewed Jay Lawrence in 2019 at an event for the Purple Heart Foundation. Jay spent 21 years in the U.S. Army, first working in the infantry and eventually working as a recruiter in Brooklyn, NY. While stationed at FOB McHenry in Iraq Jay was injured in the battle of Hawija and received a Purple Heart. Jay currently works as a Jr. ROTC teach in New York and is the founder of Combat Zone 360°, a non-for-profit who's mission is to entertain Veterans through comedy and VIP style tickets to entertainment events to ensure our Veterans know they matter. We recently caught up with Jay at The Grisly Pear Midtown where he was hosting an all Veterans comedy night in support of Combat Zone 360°.

For more info please visit combatzone360.com

Below is Jay’s original story we recoded in 2019

Jay Lawrence – U.S. Army – 1995-98, 2000-18

Jay Lawrence spent 21 years in the U.S. Army, first working in the infantry and eventually working as a recruiter in Brooklyn, NY. While stationed at FOB McHenry in Iraq Jay was injured in the battle of Hawija and received a Purple Heart. Jay has recently started a not-for-profit, Combat Zone 360, and hosts a television show and podcast of the same name. The purpose of Combat Zone 360 is to educate civilians and veterans alike. “We are going to interview military recruiting branches, nonprofit organization’s for veterans, families of veterans, and veterans themselves.” said Jay.