J. R. Martinez all smiles with donation to Operation Finally Home

Dancing with the Stars Champ, Iraq War Vet J.R. Martinez and Operation Finally Home Moved by Wall Street Rocks' Donation to Help Wounded and Disabled Vets
Latin Post
By Melissa Castellanos
April 16, 2014

Dancing with the Stars Season 13 champion, U.S. Army veteran, actor, motivational speaker and best-selling author J.R. Martinez receives a $50,000 check from Wall Street Walks on behalf of Operation Finally Home.
(Photo : Sunny Norton)

Former Iraq War veteran-turned actor and Dancing with the Stars Season 13 champion, J.R. Martinez has wowed audiences with his slick dance moves alongside Karina Smirnoff, acting roles on ABC's All My Children, Lifetime's Army Wives to the nationally syndicated drama series, SAF3.

He's even nabbed the cover of People Magazine, been featured in their Sexiest Man Alive issue and one of the magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People of 2011.

But there's so much more to him than the spotlight he's received in Hollywood.

Like the Dancing with the Star's mirror ball trophy, there are flickers of light that have reflected off his onscreen success, transcending into incredible opportunities that help fellow wounded and disabled vets and burn victims like himself, who are in desperate need of financial and emotional support.
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J.R. Martinez returns to Fort Campbell Full of Heart

‘Full of Heart’: Martinez returns to post to promote new book
Posted: Thursday, November 15, 2012
by Yvette Smith, Courier staff

Before appearing on the world stage, J.R. Martinez served his country as a 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagle. Although he is now known by many as the season 13 winner of “Dancing with the Stars”, as well as for his roles on “All My Children” and “Army Wives,” he has not forgotten his roots.

Promoting his new memoir, “Full of Heart,” Martinez took time to visit Fort Campbell and sign copies of his book while chatting with those who waited patiently Friday at the Fort Campbell Exchange.

“It’s great to be back,” said a smiling Martinez. “This is a special place in my heart. It’s nice to have the opportunity to be embraced and to be able to share with some of the troops and Families [at] a post that does so much for its country.”

With some waiting in line for more than three hours, the crowd gathered at the Exchange anxiously awaited a chance to meet Martinez. A group of Fort Campbell High School seniors were especially excited.

“We want to ask him to be our senior speaker at graduation,” said FCHS senior Charlie Cusic. “A lot of parents are being deployed this year. Like my dad, he’s not going to be at my graduation. We want to have somebody that knows what it’s like to serve in the military and all the hardships that come with it.”

Family member Miranda Poole said the book brought her out to the signing. “I don’t really watch ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ I started looking into his story and stuff, and my husband is deployed, so his story … it’s heartfelt.“
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TV role's all too real to Iraq war vet J.R. Martinez

TV role's all too real to Iraq war vet
New York Daily News - New York,NY,USA
BY STEPHANIE GASKELL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, January 11th 2009, 4:45 AM
Some people say their life is a soap opera. J.R. Martinez can say it - and mean it.

The Iraq war veteran is starring in ABC's "All My Children," playing Brot Monroe, a veteran who was badly injured in Iraq.

It's a story line that Martinez, 25, knows all too well. Just two months after deploying to Iraq with the Army's 101st Airborne Division in 2003, Martinez was driving a Humvee when it hit a land mine. He suffered serious burns over 40% of his body.

After undergoing 32 operations and spending nearly three years in the hospital, Martinez garnered the strength to move on with his life. He became the spokesman for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes and traveled the country as a motivational speaker.

Now the Louisiana native spends his days in front of a camera in the role of his life.

"I feel like this is where I need to be," Martinez told the Daily News. "I love a challenge."

He has millions of fans, but Martinez is humble about his newfound fame. And he doesn't want sympathy.