You may know Rob Riggle best as a very successful actor and comedian, but he is also a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps with three significant overseas deployments under his belt.

In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Riggle explains his unusual path of serving his nation while simultaneously pursuing a career in the arts and how his time in the Marine Corps turned out to be critical to realizing his dreams in the entertainment field. He also describes rescuing Americans and others during a civil war in Liberia and serving in Kosovo following the NATO air campaign to evict Serbia.

Riggle also takes us into his reserve duty in New York City following the 9/11 attacks and his subsequent deployment to Central Command and Afghanistan in late 2001. And he shares stories of performing for American forces at USO shows and how his experience helps him and other actors prepare for roles related to the military.

Finally, Riggle tells us why he loves hosting the American Veterans Center's "American Valor" television special each year.