Robert Martinez III

Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ 

Then I said, ‘Here am I? Send me.’

                                                                                            --Isaiah 6:8

Marty Martinez served in two branches of the service, U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps.

Inspired by scripture (Isaiah 6:8), Marty re-entered military service after the events of 9/11/2001. His Army service of 14-and-a-half-years had multiple combat deployments: Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom. He was a team medic and a critical care flight paramedic during his rotations and sustained multiple injuries to include traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and various other physical injuries. He struggled for a long time to get proper medical care from the Department of Defense and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

It was in November 2015 at the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) Heroes Gala that Marty heard about UCLA Health’s Operation Mend. He sat next to a fellow warrior who introduced him to the program, though it took Marty a few years to muster the courage to sign up, travel to California and begin his healing journey.

Marty is 11 months post-op for his right arm and shoulder and is doing well. Operation Mend has been a godsend. He thanked that warrior who introduced him to the program for helping to save his life.