J.R. Martinez doesn’t seem to be scared of anything- from foxholes to foxtrots! This Louisiana local was raised in Shreveport, before moving to Georgia as a high school senior. Following school, Martinez joined the Army and served for his country in the Iraq war. It was during his time overseas that Martinez was injured in a landmine explosion that left him with severe burns covering almost half of his body.

This event would have been enough for anyone to feel defeated- but for J.R. Martinez it had the opposite effect. While in recovery, Martinez began to speak to his fellow injured soldiers, before beginning a national speaking tour to help spread his motivational message. His dedication and determination gained public attention, and he was even interviewed by Oprah and Jay Leno for his (literal) courage under fire.

But this wouldn’t be J.R.’s last television appearance! In 2008 he joined the cast of “All My Children” playing war veteran, Monroe, and most recently he joined the competitors on “Dancing with the Stars”. His dance partner, Karina Smirnoff, challenges Martinez each week with vigorous combinations and intricate choreography. Luckily, J.R. is more than prepared to overcome challenges. He remarked, “"Karina made the choreography really hard but I'm going to take this challenge head on” in a recent interview.

His perseverance in his personal life, and his unyielding optimism have made J.R. an easy crowd favorite, and have definitely made the town of Shreveport proud of their local success!

Visit the “Dancing with the Stars” website for more about this tremendous story! Or watch this interview with J.R. himself!