J. R. Martinez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids J. R. Martinez
J. R. Martinez in 2008
Born	Jose Rene Martinez (1983-06-14) June 14, 1983 (age 42) Shreveport, Louisiana, US
Occupation	Actor motivational speaker soldier (veteran)
Years active	2008–present (acting)
Spouse(s)	Diana Jones ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	2
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	2002–2003
Rank	SPC
Battles/wars	Iraq War
Awards	Combat Action Ribbon (Needs Review – Awarded by United States Navy – United States Marine Corps – United States Coast Guard)

Jose Rene Martinez, born on June 14, 1983, is an American actor and a speaker who inspires others. He used to be a soldier in the U.S. Army. In 2008, he started acting on the TV show All My Children as a character named Brot Monroe. J. R. Martinez also won Season 13 of the popular show Dancing with the Stars. He was the main leader, called Grand Marshal, for the 2012 Rose Parade. He also acted in the TV show SAF3.

In 2003, while serving as a soldier in Iraq, Martinez was badly injured. He suffered severe burns on more than 34 percent of his body. After he recovered, he began traveling. He shares his story and experiences with many groups. These include companies, veteran organizations, and schools.

Early Life and Moving Around

Martinez was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. His mother is Maria Zavala. He has two sisters who grew up in El Salvador with his mother's family. Sadly, one of his sisters, Anabel, passed away before he could meet her. Martinez has never met his father. When he was young, he and his mother moved to Hope, Arkansas. Just before his last year of high school, at age 17, they moved again to Dalton, Georgia.

J. R. Martinez's Career Journey

Military Service and Injury

In September 2002, Martinez joined the Army. He completed his basic and advanced training at Fort Moore, Georgia. There, he became an Infantryman. In January 2003, he was sent to Fort Campbell. He joined Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, of the 502nd Infantry Regiment. This unit was part of the 101st Airborne Division.

In February 2003, he went to the Middle East. Two months later, Martinez was driving a Humvee vehicle. Its front tire hit a hidden bomb, called an IED. Martinez breathed in a lot of smoke and got severe burns. Over 34 percent of his body was burned. He was quickly taken to Ramstein AB, Germany, for urgent medical care. Then, he was moved to a special burn center. This center was at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas. He stayed at BAMC for 34 months. During that time, he had 33 surgeries, including plastic surgery and skin grafts.

Becoming a Motivational Speaker

After his recovery, Martinez became a motivational speaker. He inspires people with his story. In 2008, he was recognized as a "Shining Star of Perseverance". This award came from the WillReturn Council of Assurant Employee Benefits. The next year, a group called Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) gave him the Veterans Leadership Award.

Acting Roles on TV

In 2008, Martinez got a role on the ABC daytime show All My Children. He played Brot Monroe. His character on the show was also an Army soldier who was injured in combat. Martinez first appeared on the show on November 7, 2008. In 2012, he was in the final episode of Army Wives. He played a physical therapist helping injured veterans. In 2013, he started on the show SAF3. He played Alfonso Rivera, a firefighter and paramedic.

Helping Burn Survivors

Martinez started helping other burn survivors while he was still recovering. He was treated at Brooke Army Medical Center. He has been on the board of directors for The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. He first went to their World Burn Congress in 2008. He was a main speaker at the 2010 World Burn Congress. Martinez invited a fellow burn survivor, Jenna Bullen, to watch him on "Dancing with the Stars." They also made a public service announcement together for the Phoenix Society. Martinez also works with "Operation Finally Home." This group builds homes for American veterans and their families. These homes are mortgage-free. Martinez said about the project: "We’re not just giving them keys to open up the door to go into their home. We’re also giving them the key to opportunity, the key to know there are people who appreciate them, the key to positivity, the key to new beginnings.”

Winning Dancing with the Stars

Martinez often shares a story about his mother. She helped him learn to walk again. This was eight weeks after he had a major foot surgery. Martinez's win on the show was also the first win for his dance partner, Karina Smirnoff. He believes she pushed him to do his best in every dance. This helped him win the competition.

Radio Show Host

Martinez first hosted a radio show on December 21, 2012. He filled in for Bill Carroll on KFI-AM 640. On January 24, 2013, he started his own regular radio show. It aired on Sunday evenings.

See also

In Spanish: J. R. Martinez para niños