From Service to Stand-Up: How Humor Helps Veterans Heal By Cynthia Weiss, Wounded Warrior Project At age 8, Dewayne White told everyone he wanted to be a stand-up comedian. But at 17, he enlisted in the Army. His love for comedy followed him, though. Laughter became a way to get through challenging days, including multiple deployments to Bosnia and Iraq. Fellow veteran Danny Bahena also dreamt of a life on stage. He loved performing and making people laugh. But when he joined the Air Force, his creativity took a back seat. Years later, both men turned to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to navigate life after service. Through WWP® and its community partner, Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), Dewayne and Danny found a robust support network and a new path forward. They used humor to connect with veterans and, over time, found it helped them heal and build resilience. An Escape from Reality
Born in the United States to Mexican immigrant parents, Danny grew up watching them juggle long hours and heavy responsibility. Stress and tension were common at home. “They were in survival mode,” he says.
Among the many healing benefits of laughter: • Lowering cortisol (the body’s primary stress hormone) • Releasing dopamine and endorphins (the “feel good” hormones that help improve mood) • Helping the nervous system shift out of fight-or-flight mode, even briefly. For military personnel and veterans whose bodies and minds remain on high alert, those moments of relief can be powerful, says Dewayne. He remembers joking with fellow soldiers during challenging assignments and deployments, finding levity even in the most serious situations. “Military humor is dark. It’s cynical,” he says. “But it helps you process stuff that isn’t normal or easy. In the moment,humor gives you a way through.” Recognizing the benefits of laughter, WWP’s partner, ASAP, launched a Comedy Bootcamp® specifically for veterans, service members, and military family members. The stand-up comedy program uses humor to improve mood, build emotional resilience, and boost coping skills.
Danny found refuge in the arts. He wrote poetry, made short films, and performed on stage. “But I didn’t see many people like me doing it, so I assumed it wasn’t meant for me.” That belief — along with a deep sense of responsibility to support his parents — led Danny to the Air Force. As a military police officer, no two days were ever the same. Danny says he lived in a constant state of hypervigilance. “I was always on alert.” He also struggled to process on-the-job trauma. The stigma around mental health kept him quiet. “In that environment, I had to project control at all times.” His creative spirit suffered. “I spent years feeling like a shell of myself.” Danny began having thoughts of suicide. Looking back, he says, he came closer than he ever thought he could. Laughter is the Best Medicine
It’s a cliché for a reason. Laughter helps. 14
SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / April 2026
Danny felt reinvigorated after an ASAP comedy course.