J.R. Martinez

Martinez was evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany, where he spent 34 months recovering while undergoing over two dozen surgeries and numerous skin grafts. Upon his recovery and return to the States, he became a decorated spokesman for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans groups, while being featured in a number of stories in the Washington Post and People magazine, as well as on "60 Minutes" (CBS, 1968-). In light of his newfound celebrity, Martinez transitioned into acting in 2008, playing Brot Monroe, a former Iraq war veteran injured in combat, on the daytime soap opera "All My Children." Having spent a few years on the show, he upped his profile when he became part of the season 13 cast on "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005-) for the fall 2011 season, joining the likes of Dave Arquette, Chaz Bono, Ricki Lake, American soccer player Hope Solo and notorious NBA basketball player Ron Artest.