I am Bobby Henline, Iraq war veteran. 38% of my body was burned & I lost my left hand due to a roadside bomb. Now I do stand-up comedy. AMA.

Hey Robert. I saw you kill it in the San Antonio LOL club on their open mic. You were working stuff out and man you were on. When i saw you i was immediately expecting your set to be awkward, or weird, and you would get a bunch of sympathy laughs but instead you killed. I had some conversation with you and you stated that a lot of your work is with vets and you were really a cool dude.

You inspired me to be honest. A lot of people in general are always afraid of doing things because there is fear, fear of losing, fear of being judged, fear of so many things, and yet you have lost a lot and you have the courage to do what many couldnt. It made me realize people make excuses all the time instead of just saying yes. It made me feel small for all the excuses i have given myself, a perfectly able bodied person.

So keep it up man, keep killing. Keep being the living example that courage exists and that cowards find excuses. Thank you.

*Edit - If you understood comedians, and stand up comedy, you would understand that the phrase "killing" is the highest compliment. I see your concern however in this instance you are wrong.

I'm always in awe when you know someone really gets my mission and what I'm trying to do. Thank you for sharing that with me. See you back in SA!

When you are about to walk on stage, does the MC ever say, "Next up we got Bobby here, give him a hand guys"

^{Im sorry}

LOL. Yes, and they follow up with, "But really, give him a hand." The well-done comedian, Bobby Henline. They often ask how do you want to be introduced? And I say, "Bobby Henline, the well-done comedian." And they say, "No really, how do you want to be introduced?" But when they introduce me they say, "He wanted me to introduce him as..." They feel weird saying it themselves. They want to say that I said it was OK.

What's your opinion on this Key and Peele sketch?

Hadn't seen it but just watched it and it's very, very funny. Still laughing. A comedian actually went after myself and a burn friend one time, he pointed us out and said, "Now everyone's gonna go home and check the battery in their smoke detectors." We cried...laughing.

Just wanted to say thanks everyone for participating and asking such great questions. I'm gonna go join my friends in the NYC Veterans Day parade! Thank you to all the vets and families that have served. If my story inspires you, please check out the film mentioned above: http://content.time.com/time/healing-bobby/ If you want to reach me, I'm on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/robert.henline?fref=ts

What aspects of daily life have changed you since the burning of your body and lost of your hand.

There's a lot of things, which I call my "new normal" like being careful about being in the sun for too long. I have to wear sunglasses outside all the time because I can't close my left eye. I have to wear them inside, too, because of air conditioning sometimes. But the positive side, I get everything done single-handedly.

I get everything done single-handedly.

☜(ﾟヮﾟ☜) This guy.

LOL

Hi M.Henline, can I ask you something personal ? Do you suffer about what we call the survivor's guilty ?

I had a big issue with that in the beginning. Now, I do what I do to help heal others, and I feel this is the best revenge I can get for my brothers that I lost that day. If I can help more people than that guy ever hurt.

Thank you for your service! Do you ever get heckled? If so how do you respond?

I think people are too scared to heckle me. When you look like Freddy Krueger, they'll be afraid to go to sleep at night.

Who are your comedy inspirations?

Growing up, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy and Bill Cosby. Now, I think the funniest comedian is Daniel Tosh.

What kind of vacuum do you use?

I like to roll around on the Dyson Ball.

Is there anything that you can do now that you couldn't prior to your injury, be it emotion/intellectual or otherwise? What were you, if anything, for halloween?

Stand-up. I definitely couldn't do that before. I feel more confident in front of people now than I did. As far as viewing life, it's the same. But I appreciate it more. But spiritually is where I changed that's helped me the most.

For Halloween, I've been zombies, Freddy Krueger and J.R. Martinez. I've got pictures of those, too. For the J.R. Martinez costume, I made a mirror ball out of a vase, a toy ball, and wrapped it all in tinfoil. (Cuz he was on "Dancing with the Stars.")

"Once you go cooked, you're hooked" Haha! Great stuff Bobby. Do you have a youtube channel that I can subscribe to for following your comedy?

Right here: http://www.youtube.com/bobbyhenline

No question, just wanted to thank you for your service and sacrifice. Good luck with rhe comedy, ill look for you on Showtime in a few weeks!

Thanks so much.

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Big guy, YEAH! Well...when you've got an arm that looks like a giant penis...What's not to be happy about???

On a more serious note -- there's so much of life left to live and see. My happiness comes from the little things in life that we all take for granted these days in our busy lives. The smell of flowers. Sunset. A hug from a family member. I live by Roosevelt's "Do what you can with what you have where you're at." I think it's a great rule in life that can apply to personal, business, and is a way to pay it forward.

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Yes, Tommy Lee has nothing on me.

How much of your routine is based on your injuries?

90% is self deprecating -- not defecating.

How interesting. How did you decide to get into stand-up? Do you find that you scars affect your new career?

The scars definitely affect the new career. I was talked into it by my occupational therapist and fell in love with it. I love stand-up comedy. It's healing.

Where do you regularly perform?

I regularly perform in San Antonio. Keep an eye out for my upcoming stand-up special on Showtime. It airs December 5.

I will. I just realized that I gave been subscribing to Showtime for the last 12 months ( autopay--eek!), so I plan to maximize my subscription! Best of luck to you. Baltimore and DC would love to have you!

Thank you! I can't wait to be in Baltimore and DC and meet you.

Awesome!

Bobby is funny as all hell... and nothing beats his Freddy Krueger impression!

This is H. M. from It'z in Fayetteville

Love ya, Bobby! Keep killin' it, homie!

Love you brother!

If you could redo your service, would you?

Yes. I told my wife in the hospital if they got my hand working, I was gonna try out for Special Forces again. She just shook her head.

I am planning to go into the military. Is it worth it in your opinion?

Yes. My son plans on it, too. It's hard to know that something like this could happen to him but I understand what it's like to serve and why someone would want to do it. I have to respect his wishes. Good luck and God bless.

What was it like to work with Peter Agtmael in telling your story? Do you have any particular favorite war photographs or images that you think illustrate the realities of the Iraq conflict? I admire your courage Bobby, I think you have real talent with your stand up - I hope it brings you a lot of happiness!

I had a great time with Peter. We became great friends. My favorite war photograph is Nick Ut's photo of the girl who was burned by Napalm. Her name is Kim Phuc, and we've met 3 times. Here's that image: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/the-historic-napalm-girl-pulitzer-image-marks-its-40th-anniversary/

I think we'd all like to stand up and give you a hand.

LOL. Thanks. Got an extra left?

Thank you for serving. If you don't mind, could you link a show you did, I love stand up comedy

This is a video I set up to actually try to get on "The Tonight Show." It didn't work. LOL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNGLPx82MOU#t=11

No question. I am someone who is vehemently anti-war, although I hates the game, not the player. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I will be sure to give your stuff a listen. Way to turn a traumatic experience into something positive!

Word up! Thank you!

Didn't I see you in the film 'samsara'? I did! How did that come about?

Yes. How did that come about? They contacted the hospital looking for someone who physically showed the wounds of war. The hospital knew to call me.

How long did it take to recover? How supportive has your family been with your comedy? Thank you for your service and sacrifices.

I spent 6 months in the hospital and a total of 3 years recovering with physical therapy and functional reconstruction surgeries to make sure I could open and close my eyes and mouth. Family has been my backbone with support and recovery but they're tired of my comedy...lol.

Geez. I don't think I have the willpower for something like that. Keep doing what your doing, you're pretty good at it.

Thank you. You never know what you can do until you have to.

Do you go to Austin very often? I'd see you!

Not yet! But it's in my plans.

What were your thoughts towards warfare before you joined the army, and how did they change over time?

Also, thank you so much for being an amazing human being - your comedy brings a smile to my face.

I always thought war should be the last resort but understand that sometimes that's what it takes to get rid of evil dictators like Saddam Hussein. When you meet the people that he tortured for years and really understand what they've gone to, you don't regret a thing and would do it again.

Drop the mic.

As a comedian are you afraid of pity laughs?

I was in the beginning. That's why I wouldn't tell the audience what really happened to me. Now that I've proven that I can make them laugh with real jokes, I do go more into what actually happened to me, and they still laugh cuz I'm a funny man!

My cousin was severely burned by an IED while he was in Afghanistan and his attitude is much like yours. Thank you again for your service!

I wonder who your cousin is. I might know him! Thank you.

High 5 mate..No Pun Intended.

Left bump nub!

First off, thank you for your service. My Dad served in Iraq and in Desert Storm back in '90-'91.

Any plans to do USO shows?

Yes. I actually did twice in 2010 to Iraq and Kuwait. I'm hoping to go to Afghanistan soon.

How difficult was it to reintegrate into society after you returned from service?

That's an ongoing process. It's definitely gotten better. I've learned to deal and understand the triggers from PTSD so that I can get out and do a lot more.

I'm so glad to hear that you've found comedy, and that it's been therapeutic. Are you concerned about your long-term ability to keep going with it? Specifically, I'm asking about how long you feel you can write material/keep interest in the specific subject matter you've chosen, or if maybe you see yourself reinventing yourself as a comedian. Do you think people would stick with you if you did? This is a difficulty I think all comedians face, and your situation seems to be especially difficult.

Yes, it is definitely a challenge to keep it going, but I have plans -- two albums right now that I see that I can do for sure, and hopefully break into television sitcoms.

I have to hand it to you, you are pretty funny. Thanks for the link.

Thanks!

How do you come up with your material?

Some stuff just happens in life and other just pops in my head.

Hi Bobby: Thank you for your service and what you do for others today - especially on Veteran's Day. Could you possibly have the link to this thread posted to your Twitter account to confirm you are doing this AMA? (https://twitter.com/BobbyHenline).

Done! https://twitter.com/BobbyHenline/status/399918493304619008

Loved the "Healing Bobby" video and have read all the Q&A's. Thanks for your service and sacrifice. Am glad to see you're getting your revenge by helping more people than "they" hurt.

My request is, can you post a "before" pic of yourself? Also, do you have a pic of you and the comrades you lost to the IED?

Laughter IS the best medicine. Give it and take it generously.

Peace!

You can see my whole photo album here: http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,2821796853001_0,00.html Some highlights: the motorcycles Saddam Hussein gave people as gifts. Some great skydiving and surfing pics also. And a great joke about going to the beach.

You have my respect sir!

Thank you, I appreciate it.

God bless you. Thank you for your service. Life is sad and tragic. But if you embrace that you can actually live it. Comfort is death. Security is an illusion. Just have to get up everyday and ride the bull, if you know what I mean. Best of luck.

Thank you so much, that means a lot to me.

Thank you for your service. You have [got] to be an awesome and brave person for not only your service, but to get up and do stand up comedy. If you weren't doing stand-up right now, what do you think you'd be doing?

I don't know what else I would do besides stand-up or sharing my story. I saw my whole career in the military, so if I wasn't doing this, I'd be a stay at home mommy, which isn't bad, just not as funny. Both would be great because you can drink at both jobs!

Thank you for your service! Choose: Would you rather have permanent cheeto fingers, or have a popcorn kernel stuck in the back of your throat forever?

Cheeto fingers, DEFINITELY. The popcorn thing is horrible! It would drive me crazy. Cheeto fingers I have an excuse to eat more Cheetos.

first off, thank you for your service! you must have went through quite a lot.

now I gotta ask, whats your 'best' joke, or one that always gets a laugh from a crowd?

People always tell me it's the one about expecting a discount and my cremation... and messing with people at firework stands.

If you could perform standup anywhere, where would you love to perform? Why?

Thanks for your service!

Fort Bragg, North Carolina. That's my home base, where I was stationed. I'd love to make my brothers and sisters of the 82nd airborne laugh.

When is your next show in SA?

Wednesday night! Open mic at Bracken Saloon.

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Just watched that! Somebody else recommended it, too. I don't work the crowd or insult people, although i think it's funny! I'm just not good at it.

Cheers to you! No questions, just want to give you praise for being strong. Go you!

Thanks!

Thanks for your service! Mad respect for airborne!

Thanks! All the way.