J.R. Martinez

A native of San Antonio's Westside, Multi-Grammy nominated Posada began studying saxophone at the age of twelve. Though his parents were not musicians, Posada's mother greatly encouraged her son's study of music, so as to keep him off the streets and away from potentially bad influences. "By the time I finished elementary school, I was already a member of D.R. and The Interiors, a group of kids from around the San Juan Courts," Posada has said, still living today on the same street he grew up on.

J.R. Martinez was born in 1983, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Maria Zavala. At a young age, he moved to Hope, Arkansas, where he and his mother lived until he was 17. They moved to Dalton, GA just prior to his senior year, to the place he now proudly calls his hometown. In Georgia, Martinez played strong safety on the Catamounts, the Dalton High School football team and went to the Georgia State Championships with his team. J.R. dreamed of playing professional football, but his plan was derailed after a sports injury during his senior year.

After his high school graduation, J.R. saw a commercial for the Army which intrigued him. Seeking advice from his football coach about the prospect of joining, he decided to enlist in the United States Army after a visit with an Army recruiter. Martinez was proud to serve, as a way to give something back to a country that had already given so much to him and his family. In September of 2002, J.R. underwent Basic and Advanced Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he gained skills as an 11-B Infantryman. After reporting to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in January of 2003, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

In March of 2003, J.R. was deployed to Iraq and on April 5, less than a month into his deployment, he was serving as a driver of a Humvee in Karbala, when his left front tire hit a land-mine. Three other soldiers with J.R. were ejected from the burning vehicle, but Martinez was trapped inside. J.R. suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns to more than 40 percent of his body. Martinez claims, that while he was fighting for his life and awaiting medical help in Iraq, his sister Anabel, who passed away when J.R. was a child, appeared to him, giving him the strength to stay alive. After he was pulled out of the Humvee, Martinez was evacuated to a local medic station in Iraq and then Landstuhl, Germany, for immediate care. He was eventually sent to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas. J.R. spent 34 months in recovery at BAMC and underwent 32 different surgeries including skin grafts and cosmetic surgery.

During his time in recovery, a nurse asked him to speak to a burn patient, who had just seen his body for the first time and had become withdrawn. After an approximate 45 minute visit, the patient opened the curtain letting light in his room and his heart. Martinez then understood the impact he had on this patient and decided to use his experience to help others, visiting with several of the patients in the hospital, sharing his story and listening to theirs.

Since then, J.R. has become a highly sought-after motivational speaker, traveling the country to spread his message of resilience and optimism. He is called on by a wide-range of groups, including large corporations, veterans groups, non-profits and schools; and has shared the stage with the likes of global self-help guru Tony Robbins and Evangelist Dave Roever. Martinez has been featured in The Washington Post, PEOPLE magazine, the New York Times, and New York Daily News, has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes, The View, CNN, Inside Edition, FOX News, Good Morning America, Univision, along with other major national news outlets.

In October 2008, J.R. stepped into another role, when he was cast as combat veteran Brot Monroe on ABC's Emmy® Award-winning daytime drama All My Children. Today, J.R. continues to balance his role on All My Children with his speaking engagements, along with his extensive charity work.

While J.R.'s experience was certainly life-changing, amazingly he claims this is actually a change for the better. He has discovered it is what is inside a person that matters most and devotes himself to showing others the true value in making the most of every situation. "I wouldn't change anything...absolutely anything!" J.R. says. "I do believe everything happens for a reason, and I'm extremely grateful for that day because it lead me into this life!"