Soap Opera Weekly had such a great interview with ALL MY CHILDREN's JR Martinez, Brot's portrayer, that we're going to feature it on our site not once, but twice. Here's Part 1.
Soap Opera Weekly: When did you join the military?
JR Martinez: I joined when I was 18, right out of high school. My job in the military was infantry. Infantry is basically the front line. You're trained on combat. I chose that because if I was going to go to a war environment, I wanted to feel like I was a part of it, and I wanted to feel I actually did something to help the cause.
Weekly: The day you were injured in Iraq, your Humvee drove over a landmine, throwing three other soldiers from the vehicle. But what happened to you?
Martinez: I was trapped inside the vehicle. The explosion caused a fire. We would rather lose one guy than five, and what that means is if one of our guys [is] injured, then we have to get to a safe point, and once we figure out what's going on, then we go back to help our fellow service member.
Weekly: So you ended up being trapped in the burning Humvee for 10 to 15 minutes. What were you thinking?
Martinez: "My life will end in another country." The biggest thing was my mother. My mother was the one who raised me on her own, and she's basically my best friend. I [was] thinking to myself that my mother was going to be devastated, because she had already lost a daughter when I was 5 years old. I was conscious, and all of this was going through my mind.
Weekly: But they did get you out, and they evacuated you to Germany. What happened there?
Martinez: When I got there, I immediately went into emergency surgery. After about three or four days, I was brought down to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Weekly: And you had been in a coma that whole time — you didn't wake up until you were back in the United States?
Martinez: Yeah. I got to the U.S. on the 9th of April, four days after my injury. I didn't come out of my coma until the last week of April. I was back in the States almost three weeks before I came out of it.
Weekly: What was your rehabilitation like?
Martinez: After I came out of the coma, I basically went from being this tough guy — being an athlete in high school to being in the Army and being able to do all the physical things — [to] being somewhat of an infant. Not being able to do anything for myself — the simple things that we do every single day that sometimes we take for granted.
Weekly: When did you first see your wounds?
Martinez: After about the fifth day, I hadn't seen my body, because there were so many bandages. [The nurse] came into my room and he said, "Okay, JR, we're going to do your care." I said, "No. I want to see my face. I want to see my body." That really shocked him, for me to say that so early on. He said, "No, no, no, not yet." I said, "I'm 19 years old, and I'm going to have to live with this for the rest of my life; I might as well start learning how to live with it now." He said, "I can't argue with you on that. That's your request. We have to grant it." He pulled up a mirror, and that's when everything changed for me. I was called "the pretty boy." I was always concerned about my looks. When I looked at the mirror, it wasn't the same thing I was used to seeing. [What I saw] was so devastating, and immediately I became angry, depressed, regretful, you name it — all of these things popped into my head. I said I would have been better off not making it than having to live like this. My mother said something to me: "JR, it's not about how you look, it's about who you are. If anyone is going to be in your life, it's going to be because they love who you are." Even though it made sense, I continued to argue with her. I said, "No, you don't understand. I'm going to walk down the street and people are going to stare. People are going to move away out of disgust. There are going to be kids that are going to scream and look at me with fear." She basically said, "You'll learn that your personality will shine, and that's what people will love." I didn't even think I had a personality. I was like, "I don't have a personality, Mom! What the hell am I going to do?! People aren't going to hang out with me." To my surprise, when I got out of the hospital, yes, I got stares, yes, kids were afraid, and yes, people stepped away from me. But there were people that didn't. They showed me that they were giving me the opportunity to [show] the real me, and that's all that mattered.
Im happy that someone cared enough about my rights to risk his life. Like most our military they get over looked. I was a proud military wife and have to say THANK YOU to all who give their lives for the freedom of others. And to all on the home front or support their military from home be it a spouse, mother, brother, father, sister or whatever... THANK YOU too. Without your support they would not be able to do it.
I lost an uncle on the Rue Irish on 5.4.04 due to an IED and have such a profound respect & admiration for each and every soldier over in harms way.I can only say that reading this story of what this man has been through & will continue to endure makes me gush with an enormous sense of pride for country. Bravo and this dude needs a fan club ASAP! I will happily volunteer! God Bless America & heros like JR!
I have always been a fan of All My Children. I am so touched by the story line of JR. I am so proud of the military men and women who show great love for this country. JR, to come on a show such as AMC really shows that you are making such an attempt to live. I think I am speaking for many people when I say 'Thank you' for being so courageous. One can learn to live when face with difficult challenges or one can succumb to the darkness that falls upon us. Thank You for having such a profound impact on my life.
I was very pleased when I saw the story line that AMC was doing. When Tad sat in on the group interview last week, I almost wept. So many television shows have portrayed our soldiers in a negative light... and just to make political statements. I am a fourth generation military wife living near the largest Army post in the country. We watch our soldiers leave regularly and endure the wait while most of the country continues to live their lives unaffected. Thank you to AMC for showing people the reality of life for the men and women who serve.
Hi Julie--Thanks for bringing JR's amazing journey to light. It must have been an honor for you to speak to this incredible man. He is a great actor from what I've witnessed so far but also has the true ability to draw from his horrific experiences and bring so much credibility to his performances. Words cannot express how courageous he is and he is nothing less than a gift in the lives of so many Americans and in the lives of All My Children fans.
We need more heroes like JR. We should be grateful for what military personnel go through every day for us, that we can continue to be 'the land of the free.'
They say the eyes are the window to the soul. When I first viewed you on the show, I said he is a very handsome man. It wasn't, he would be handsome without the scars (burns). My friends often teased me when I was growing up for always seeing beauty in people. It was so ironic that JR referred to himself as the "pretty boy" as I could see it before it was stated. I pray you continue to live a positive life because you are indeed beautiful. God bless! SNJ
JR Martinez has the most beautiful smile. Thanks for all you have gone through to protect our country. I have always been a fan of All My Children but you are quickly becoming one of my favorite people on the show. Heres to seeing your Brot charecter around Pine Valley for a long time. Maybe you will be there until you are as old as Adam Chandler!
Hey JR, this is your friend from Arlington, Tx's Mom. I am so proud of you! I have been watching AMC since I was a kid and feel so blessed that the writers had enough forsight to do something for our boys. CONGRATULATIONS on landing the role! Keep up the great work. You doing yourself and our troops proud! I know Vicki and I will be keeping your with your fabulous performance! YOU GO BOY! Show them what you've STILL got, just like your Mom told you back when.
There's an old saying,"If Only All The Hands That Reach, Could Touch" A HUGE HUG and Thank You to everyone in the military, my husband is retired 22 years Army,We have seen and been thru it all, as we go to the VA hospital every month for my husband still, he fought in Desert Shield/Desert Storm on the front lines, andI'm so proud of him, and TO YOU JR, you are beautiful! Keep that smile, it reaches so many,and touches our hearts deeply, We seen so many men and women that have been "thru it" every month, and it takes a Real Human, someone will to sacrifice for others,you are our HERO!
Welcome back JR, and I also wish to thank you for your service and sacrifice's for our freedoms. God Bless you always and I wish you all the best in your future, be it in acting or which ever path you take. Thank you and all our service men & women for the couragous services.
GOD bless you, my son was also in the army and he came back with some mental sickness, he drove away everyone of his friends and family even me his own mom... there's a name of this sickness I just don't know something like PTSD... I'm still strugling not just him because I will always be there for him, because he was there for US......
I watch how you come across on screen and I think you are gorgeous! Your eyes have a story to tell.
I am so touched by your courage. I never had a hero before, I do now.
JR, you are incredibly handsome and brave. You make me proud to be an American. Watching AMC is now a pleasue as well as a treat! Keep up the good work and thanks for serving our beautiful country with such diligence and bravery. My oldest sibling was in the Vietnam war and lost his life at 21 years old in Vietnam. Please thank God for sparing your life because you have so much to offer. You are an Americn Hero! God bless you and your family.
Dearest JR, I am a army wife myself with a husband overseas in Afghanistan for 15 months. I want to say to you and all of our service men and women everywhere: thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do and I am enjoying you on AMC and hope you will remain for time to come. You are an inspiration to anyone who is "different" in peoples eyes. If they cant see beyond the surface then they are not worth the time. God Bless you and your family and I am so glad you came home safe. Since I live in Texas if I ever see you at BAMC I will be glad to come up to you and give you a hug. Thank you for being you and keeping us safe in this awful war. Alicia
you are very brave preson i seen in my life
You absolutely ROCK! I hope you know how much this will help others who have been hurt and disfigured. Your Mom is right - its what is in the inside that counts - always remember that! I wouldn't hesitate to date a guy like you - brave, honest, and a hero! Good luck in life and all your endeavors!
WOW! You are an amazing young man, JR. You're also a devilishly handsome young man too! Your smile and your eyes shine through and still make a girl's heart swoon. Of that, I'm sure. I hope that you're beginning to see how beauty isn't skin deep and that people will love you in spite of your fears and apprehensions. I'm the mom of a soldier currently serving and your courage and spirit are uplifting. He also went in at 18, wanting nothing more than to serve, and to make a difference. After all you've been through, you are STILL making that difference. By sharing your experience, and allowing yourself to be seen by millions on television, you are taking the shock and awe out of how people will view burn victims in the future. Your willingness to put a face to the injured soldier for the world to see, is another way of serving, and for you, I am forever thankful. We love you JR, and can't wait to see more of you (and your character) shine on AMC! I know your mom must
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