Dalton High School graduate J.R. Martinez speaks to students Thursday at Eastbrook Middle School. Martinez spoke of his war experiences and encouraged students to believe in themselves.DALTON, Ga. – Jose Rene “J.R.” Martinez may have graduated from the crosstown rival high school, but students at Southeast Whitfield High School didn’t hold that against the TV star Thursday morning.
Students roared their approval when Martinez, a former U.S. Army soldier who was disfigured by burns in 2003 when his Humvee hit a land mine in Iraq, entered the school gym. He roamed the entire gym floor as he captivated students with his high-energy, motivational message.
“I call Dalton, Georgia, home,” said Martinez, before launching into a thumbnail sketch of his life.
“My mom didn’t have a lot of money. My mom didn’t speak the language that well,” he said, explaining he was raised by a single mother from El Salvador, and his father left when Martinez was 9 months old.
“I still don’t know him to this day,” he said.