A violent, hot explosion took both of Sapper Curtis McGrath's legs in August 2012.
The ground rose up beneath him when we was caught unaware on what he thought was safe and familiar ground ahead of a patrol in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.
The army combat engineer, whose job it was to clear the day's path of IEDs, fell victim to one himself.
But somehow despite the physical wreckage and bewilderment, he experienced a bizarre moment of clarity.
"I found myself trying to do my own first aid and instructing the men on how to administer the morphine," he told 38,000 people gathered in temperamental rain outside the Australian War Memorial for the Anzac Day dawn service in Canberra.
His mates, meanwhile, were wrestling with five tourniquets on what was left of his legs, swallowing their own tears and terror.
It was through their efforts and those who evacuated him out and operated that he received an unforgettable "DUSTOFF".
The call sign stands for "dedicated unhesitating service to our fighting forces", he explained.
Delivering the commemorative address, former Sapper McGrath - now a Paralympian gold medallist - reflected on those men and women who return home from conflict to a silent, private suffering.
"It has taken a terrible toll and for some it's far from over," he said.
Soldiers and peacekeepers learn an ethic of service to the nation and in return the country is learning an ethic of care for wounded veterans.
"May we, as a nation, continue to provide those men and women who have served us with the care they need, dedicated, unhesitating service to our fighting forces, a mighty Australian DUSTOFF," he said.
Memorial director Brendan Nelson said Australia was free in no small way because of the service and courage of defence personnel, including people like Curtis McGrath.
"Despite the weather, 38,000 Australians paused here with ... humility, abiding reverence infused with overwhelming pride," he later told reporters.
The former sapper said it was an honour to address the gathering.
Dr Nelson expected rain and not much shine for the national ceremony later in the morning, but he looked forward to seeing indigenous veterans leading the parade.
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