“I’m a soldier,” I said, getting serious. “I’ll always be a soldier, and I want to share the message from whatever platform I have. As the Department of Defense is hammering out ways to take care of our troops in different ways, I want to be able to find a way to express that to the general public.”
Job well done, soldier, I told myself.
Then in April 2012 I had another chance to meet military royalty. I was invited by Newsweek magazine to be their guest at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, probably the biggest night of the year in Washington. This year’s event was as star-studded as usual, with comedian Jimmy Kimmel headlining and celebs like Kevin Spacey, Steven Spielberg, and Eva Longoria in attendance.
For me, the biggest thrill was being seated at the same table with General David Petraeus, current director of the CIA and, even more relevant to me, former commander of the 101st Airborne during the invasion of Iraq. He was friendly and personable, asking me what I was up to. When I told him I was working on this book, he mentioned his own newly published book, All In, and gave me a few pointers about navigating the editorial maze.
Taking my seat at the banquet table, I thought about calling Dan to tell him that I’d just shot the breeze with General Petraeus. Who could have ever imagined this? Nine years ago I was just an everyday soldier, and now I’d just had a personal conversation with one of the principals of recent history.
And now, like everyone else, it’s time to think about what’s next. I just turned twenty-nine and celebrated my first Father’s Day. I still travel nonstop, which makes me appreciate my downtime at home all the more. I like nothing more than taking Romeo to the park or sitting around eating pizza and watching SportsCenter. I tell people that I will always stay grounded because if I ever get a big head, I’m brought right back to earth when I have to pick up that big dog’s poop. Romeo adds so much to my life that I don’t mind cleanup duty.
Another plus in my life is that I have a great relationship with Consuelo, who calls me “Renesito.” A couple of years ago I traveled alone to El Salvador to visit her, and we became a lot closer. I love my sister and I want us to be a part of each other’s lives. Someday I hope I can travel to Georgia to visit my mom and my sister, both living under the same roof. I’m working on it.
I also plan to work on a few things on my bucket list. I want to learn to play piano again and try to surf. I want to go on a cruise and attend the Carnival in Rio. It’s a dream to have my own jet so all that traveling I do is easier. I’d like to learn another language; I’m thinking Mandarin. And once things settle down, I’d finally like to go to college and get my degree. I enjoy motivating people, and I look forward to exploring future acting and entertainment opportunities.
So I’m different, but I’m still the same. I have lots of hopes and dreams. I continue to be very wary in my personal relationships. I have thousands of acquaintances but only a handful of really close friends. When I was a teenager, I thought people liked me because of my looks; after I was injured, I didn’t know if people were being nice to me because they felt sorry for me. These days I sometimes wonder if people are trying to be close because I’m well known.
The one person I’ll never have to worry about is my daughter. I want to watch her grow up; to be the father that I never had. I look forward to teaching her what I’ve learned, most importantly never to forget to have fun and laugh, because you never know what’s around the corner.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want to first thank God for blessing me and those closest to me through all the tough times and guiding us through to positive outcomes. I want to thank him for my second chance at life, for giving me the opportunity to do the things I’m doing today, and for giving me the strength to do them. My faith has grown since my injury, and I believe, with faith, all is possible.
To the woman who never had the opportunity to be a child: I would like to thank my mother. She made incredible sacrifices to stay in the United States, even after learning her youngest daughter had passed away and her oldest daughter would have to remain in El Salvador. I am the way I am today because of my mother, and I admire her courage in facing so many obstacles to raise a boy on her own and take care of my sister and family in El Salvador. My mom has given me a lot, but the main thing is her smile. When people compliment me on my smile, I think of my mom’s. I am the fighter I am because of you. This book is a tribute to my mother for being one badass woman—a four-foot, eleven-inch GIANT! I love you, Mom!
I want to acknowledge all of the soldiers who were with me in Iraq on April 5, 2003, especially Ernest Clayton, Justin Hart, Joshua Hopkins, Terrence O’Shea, and Chris Valdez. I hope they understand that this is my way of making the best of my second chance.
I would like to thank everyone at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Their passion to care for me and every other burn patient is reflected in my life. I thank Dr. Dave Barillo, who worked on me tirelessly, saving my life. Big love to Mike Shiels and Bonnie Jackson, both nurses at BAMC who cared for me every day for months and, most important, became friends. I salute all of the staff at BAMC—doctors, nurses, therapists, civilians, Norma in public affairs, and so many more people—and to name everyone would mean I would need to write a separate book. Thank you all for your loving touches and for never allowing me to get stuck feeling sorry for myself, but instead encouraging me to keep placing one foot in front of the other.
Thanks to everyone in Dalton, who showed my mother and me an amazing amount of love since we first arrived. When my mother went to my side in the hospital, our community stepped up in a big way to sustain us—raising money to help my mom pay bills, sending messages of support, and being there for us every step of the way. Coach Ronnie McClurg and his wife, Judy; Ron and Susan Ward; Mary Rose Threet and her husband, Gene: Thank you for being a big part of my life.
To my best friend, Dan Vargas, who lends his ears and shares his words in the moments when the rest of the world is asleep—he always answers his phone—and to the stories we’ve created together and the memories that will last forever: Cheers to you, my friend. Your friendship means the world to me.
To my former boss and great friend, Julie Carruthers: She believed in me, seeing something in me that ultimately allowed me to share it with the world.
Thanks to my girlfriend, Diana, who is someone I can always bounce ideas and thoughts off of. We started as friends and grew into so much more. You hold it down at home while I’m on the road. Thank you for understanding while I’m gallivanting around. The birth of our daughter, Lauryn Anabelle Martinez, or Belle, has added an incredible dimension to our lives.
To all of you who read this book, thank you for sharing this journey with me. I hope that every single one of you is able to take a message from the words in this book—something that will help you one day when you’re facing adversity. Keep fighting! You will win if you keep at it.
—J. R. Martinez
Los Angeles
I would like to express my gratitude to J. R. Martinez, who trusted me to help tell his story, dug a little deeper every time he was asked, and could usually make me laugh!
I’m deeply indebted to Maria Felix Zavala, who spent seemingly limitless amounts of emotional energy to excavate her past so we could understand her journey. She also has the best giggle of anyone, anywhere.
This book would not have happened without the guidance of Robert Guinsler of Sterling Lord Literistic, Elizabeth Stein, and everyone at Hyperion. My appreciation to Major General Joseph Anderson for military and technical clarifications.
My thanks to everyone who graciously agreed to be interviewed, either for attribution or context; the professionals at BAMC; and Nancy Jeffrey at People, for giving me such great assignments, including the one at which I met J.R. Bouquets to Stefani McNair, Jana Dozier Sansbury, and Brenda Langston Sullivan for their critiques of the text.
An ocean of love to my family—siblings Bill Rockey and Alice Rockey, and my parents, Anna and re
tired Colonel William K. Rockey. My father, a thirty-one-year Marine Corps veteran, deserves special credit for vetting military references. My teenagers were understanding throughout the process and shouldered the burden of neglect and fast food without complaint. Thanks to my daughter, Natalie, whose compassion and intelligence will take her anywhere she wants to go, and my son, Garrett, who’s a scholar, athlete, and the coolest guitar player I know. Love to Julie Norveel, who’s been a ray of Norwegian sunshine this year, and always.
And love to the encyclopedic brains of the family, Dr. James M. Fleming, who is the voice of reason and who always has my back.
—Alexandra Rockey Fleming
Arlington, Virginia
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After being injured in Iraq, J. R. Martinez became a motivational speaker, actor, and winner of season thirteen of Dancing with the Stars. Martinez lives in Los Angeles.
jrmartinez.com
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2012 by J. R. Martinez
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following for permission to reproduce illustrations in the photo section: Photos 1–18, 21, 24, 27: All photographs courtesy of the Martinez family. Photo 19: Michael Yarish/ABC. Photos 20, 22: Rick Rowell/ABC. Photos 23, 25/About the Author: Adam Taylor/ABC. Photo 26: photo provided by Our 365 Newborn Photography.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information address Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011.
The Library of Congress has catalogued the original print edition of this book as follows:
Martinez, J. R. (Jose Rene).
Full of heart: my story of survival, strength, and spirit/J. R. Martinez with Alexandra Rockey Fleming.—1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4013-2474-2
1. Martinez, J. R. (Jose Rene), 1983–2. Disabled veterans—United States—Biography. 3. Iraq War, 2003–2011—Veterans—Biography. 4. All my children (Television program) 5. Dancing with the stars (Television program) 6. United States. Army—Biography. 7. Salvadoran Americans—Biography. I. Fleming, Alexandra Rockey. II. Title.
UB363.M36 2012
362.4092—dc23
2012025894
eBook Edition ISBN: 978-1-4013-0487-4
Hyperion books are available for special promotions and premiums. For details, contact the HarperCollins Special Markets Department in the New York office at 212-207-7528, fax 212-207-7222, or email [email protected].
Cover design by ArtParts
Cover photograph © Donna Svennivik
Author photograph © Adam Taylor/ABC
First eBook Edition
Original hardcover edition printed in the United States of America.
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Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit Page 21
