11 14 20 VA Veteran of the Day .
Luis Martinez III served in the Air Force as a pavements and heavy equipment operator. From 1996 to 2012, he did tours in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Palau, Ecuador and Egypt. In addition, he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
During his service, Martinez endured several injuries. In 2004, he was stabbed in the abdomen at a vehicle checkpoint; in 2008, he was shot in the left shoulder in convoy; a year later, his vehicle was hit with a blast caused by an improvised explosive device (IED). During his service, Martinez received several awards, including three Purple Hearts, an Army Commendation Medal and an Air Force Combat Action Medal....