Mollie Gross brings laughs, advice to Tri-Command

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Story by Cpl. Sarah Cherry

Date: 05.16.2014
Posted: 05.22.2014 15:16
News ID: 130825
Mollie Gross brings laughs, advice to Tri-Command

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. - Mollie Gross, a comedienne and motivational speaker, came to the Tri-Command as part of her Semperfeisty comedy tour to give spouses a comedy show and motivational workshop, May 16 and 17.

“She kept me laughing the whole time,” said Jami Lavery, wife of Sgt. Dustin Lavery, a heavy equipment operator with Headquarters and Service Battalion aboard Parris Island. “There’s never a dull moment. She constantly keeps you entertained and it’s all about life in the military, and as mothers and spouses in general.”

Laughter rose from the crowd throughout her comedy performance, as she discussed deployments, issues before and after deployments, and snuck advice into her jokes.

“I believe in the healing power of laughter,” said Gross. “When we stop taking things too seriously and focus on laughing and being thankful, life is more enjoyable.”

Gross has been speaking publicly about her experience as a military spouse since 2008, when her husband first deployed. Her husband, now a veteran, served in Iraq as an infantryman.

“Her stories are accurate, and she says what many spouses are thinking,” said M.J. Boice, readiness and deployment support trainer for Marine Corps Family Team Building. “She acknowledges the not-so-great parts of the military lifestyle and being a military spouse. By making us laugh and putting it in perspective, she promotes not only surviving, but thriving.”

Her talents for entertaining crowds and offering counsel have taken her across the world, and through several movies, and musicals. She wrote a book about her experiences and hopes that her stories can help bring spouses up and draw them together. She is currently working on a sequel.

“Her humor can help bridge the gap to younger wives while teaching them about the military,” said Jon Gross, Mollie Gross’ husband. “It’s important that her humor can reach a demographic that is hidden within the military community.”

Find Mollie Gross online at facebook.com/molliegrosscomedy.