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Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, U.S. Army Sergeant Julio Martinez felt called to serve the country that gave him and his family such immense opportunity.
Julio joined the Army in 2012, graduating as a Private First Class. He was then assigned to Fort Bliss, where he tested and evaluated the Army’s newest equipment. During a live fire mission in March of 2017, Julio’s platoon received incoming fire and was required to leave immediately under black out orders, meaning the platoon drove in complete darkness. While traveling at a high speed, Julio’s vehicle struck a deep washout and he was ejected from his seat. He was knocked unconscious during the collision after striking his head, neck and lower back. He was required to be medically evacuated and recovered in various hospitals for two months.
As a result of the accident, Julio lost his ability to perform activities of daily living, such as walking, dressing and cooking, and is confined to a wheelchair. His scars are both visible and unseen, including paraplegia, loss of use in bilateral feet, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), obstructive sleep apnea, post traumatic epilepsy, occipital neuralega and more. For his five years and 10 months of service, Julio received three Army Commendation Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and more.
After his honorable discharge, Julio and his wife, Manquetzalli, focused on his continued rehabilitation. Julio states that “my wife and three children are the heart that motivate me to keep going every day.” Together with their three children, they enjoy watching movies, camping and visiting the beach.
Operation FINALLY HOME along with Braselton Homes, H-E-B, and CBN’s Helping the Homefront are excited to provide the Martinez family with a custom-built, mortgage-free home in Corpus Christi, Texas.
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