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‘Dancing’ champion wants to be voice for troops

“Dancing With The Stars” winner J.R. Martinez appeared at Fort Campbell, Ky., recently in a triumphant if low-key return.

He was back partly to share his triumph with his old unit, but mostly to share his experiences of the past 10 years, since he first sat in that same dining facility as a young private.

He expressed his love for the service, despite the injury that resulted in 33 operations and a long stay in a burn ward.

Knowing he could never be an infantryman again, Martinez found a way to continue to serve outside of the Army, as a motivational speaker.

“Just know,” Martinez said, “that when I go out there to speak, I’m speaking for every one of you guys, here and around the world. You can take that M16 out of my hand and that camouflage uniform off of my body, but my weapons are my words and my uniform is my body.”

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has invited Martinez to meet him at the Pentagon. Panetta told the dance champion following his win that he demonstrated the strength and resilience of wounded veterans, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said.

Martinez credited his military training for his performance on the ABC show.

Following his remarks at Fort Campbell, Martinez the soldier was made a Distinguished Member of the Regiment and given a certificate in a standard Army-issue frame. He said, without a trace of kidding, that he was going to place it above the Mirror Ball Trophy he won on “DWTS.”