Defense Secretary Invites Dancing Champion J.R. Martinez For The Government

First Launched: November 25, 2011 3:55 PM EST Credit: Getty Images WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Caption J.R. Martinez within the cast of Dwts happily showcases his trophy round the number of Hello America in NY City on November 23, 2011 Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has requested soldier-switched-actor J.R. Martinez, champion from the seasons Dwts competition, to fulfill him within the Government. Within a ten-minute phone call Friday, Panetta told the dance champion he proven the strength and resilience of wounded veterans, Government representative Capt. John Kirby mentioned. Martinez credited his military practicing his performance round the ABC show, Kirby mentioned. Martinez and professional partner Karina Smirnoff bested fellow runners up Make the most of Kardashian and Ricki Lake inside the finale broadcast Tuesday. Martinez, 28, was seriously burned over greater than forty percent of his body when the Humvee he was driving for your U.S. Military in Iraq struck a land mine in 2003. After a lot of methods within a virtually three-year recovery, Martinez increased to become inspiring speaker too as with 2008 won employment round the now-outdated ABC cleaning cleaning soap opera The Kids. Nuances of Panettas winding up in Martinez are increasingly being worked out. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.