Army veteran J.R. Martinez finds new ways to serve

Soldier turned actor, author and motivational speaker outlines approach to service during campus visit 

Editor’s note: In the UND LEADS Strategic Plan, the Affinity core value calls on the University to “enhance UND’s military-friendly environment in which we recruit, welcome and retain military-affiliated students and families.” This story reports on a Veterans Day-related event that UND hosted with that Affinity obligation in mind.

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They say showing up is half the battle.

For J.R. Martinez, the adage emphasizing consistency and accountability has served him well throughout his life – despite facing an inordinate amount of adversity.

The retired U.S. Army soldier turned actor, author and motivational speaker visited UND on Nov. 19 to share his story of resilience following personal tragedy. In addition to a speech delivered to the campus community at the Memorial Union, Martinez visited with cadets in UND’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.

The son of immigrants, Martinez was born in Shreveport, La., and reminisced with both cadets and the campus community about his childhood  – particularly trips to visit family in his mother’s native country of El Salvador.

These visits, Martinez said, instilled in him a sense of gratitude for his upbringing in the United States.

“There was no electricity, you would use the bathroom in the woods and got drinking water from a creek,” he said. “That really reframed my mind as a kid. It made me realize that even though I might not have a lot in terms of material possessions compared to my friends, I do have a lot. I gained a deeper appreciation for this country.”

Martinez added that his Hispanic identity did play a key role in his formative years. He described watching Univision – a major Spanish language television network – with his mother.

“They would highlight someone in the community – a musician, politician, you name it,” he said. “At the end of their bio, it would say, ‘esa persona es un orgullo Hispano’ (this person is a proud Hispanic). I told my mother, ‘one day I want to be un orgullo Hispano.’”

Years later, Martinez’s mother echoed this sentiment.

“I remember her preparing for her citizenship test, and I would sit in the living room and quiz her on facts about U.S. history,” he said. “My mom would stop and tell me, ‘You are going to do something to help make this country better.’”

Martinez’s upbringing — coupled with the events of Sept. 11, 2001 — led him to enlist in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school in 2002. The following March found Martinez deploying to fight in the Iraq War.

“I was 19 – I didn’t have the luxury of extensive training or experience,” Martinez said. “The only thing I could do was look around this aircraft with all these men and their equipment and say, ‘I need to follow them.’”

Just two months into his deployment, the Humvee that Martinez was driving struck a roadside bomb. He was trapped inside the vehicle for several minutes, suffering severe burns and smoke inhalation.

After being medically evacuated to Germany, Martinez returned to the U.S. He spent nearly three years recovering from his injuries – undergoing dozens of surgeries in the process.

Although Martinez said the reality that his Army career was over was initially hard to process, he found a new way to serve while still in the hospital.

“I started visiting with patients every day between my own appointments,” he said. “What I identified was that I could continue to serve. I like to tell people that my new weapon is my words, and my new uniform is my scars. That became the foundation for everything I’ve done over the last two decades – service is the root of everything I do.”

Martinez has shared his story throughout the nation and world – authorizing a New York Times bestselling memoir titled “Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength and Spirit,” and appearing on the reality TV show “Dancing with the Stars;” by the way, with partner Karina Smirnoff, he won Season 13 of that program.

He also played the role of Brot Monroe on the ABC series “All my Children.”

All these experiences, Martinez said, amount to cumulative bits of valuable wisdom – which he likened to saving pennies. Although the currency may seem insignificant on its own, collecting hundreds or thousands of similar coins — or experiences — through the years adds up in tremendously value.

Other tips on leadership from Martinez.

• Always be ready: Like in team sports, embrace the “next man up mentality,” and have faith in your abilities to perform when your name is called.
• Adversity is a terrible thing to waste: Having the fortitude to practice gratitude and persevere builds character and resilience.
• Acid does more harm in the vessel it is stored in than on the subject which it is poured: A person who internalizes negative energy will suffer its ill effects more than the subject that person is projecting it upon.

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