"I THINK back to the guys I served with who died - what did they actually die for?"
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It was 1970 when Corporal Peter Ashton, a 21-year-old section commander, earned his Distinguished Conduct Medal in Vietnam.
The former semi-professional kangaroo shooter from South Australia had volunteered for service only two years earlier.
Mr Ashton's award was the second-highest acknowledgement attainable by Australian troops; the highest ever granted during the country's 13-year involvement.
On March 8, his platoon made enemy contact in thick bush.
Two shots ricochet off a corporal's collarbone and through the shoulder of his supporting lieutenant.
Mr Ashton's section was sent to the left of the gunfire and attempted to establish a machine gun position on its flank.
"All of a sudden everything blows up, basically," he said.
After the M60 was set, sheltered by a large tree, Mr Ashton crawled to find a vantage point.
His search was fruitless.
"I came back to the tree and found the machine gunner was dead - he had been shot through the head," Mr Ashton said.
"The second in command went to try and roll him away and get the gun started again ... he didn't get down enough, he was shot through the throat and bled to death.
"At that the lance-corporal tried to get rid of both the bodies and get the machine gun going - I can remember saying to him 'get down, get down, get down' [but] he was shot through the cheek and was dead instantly."
The citation for Mr Ashton's medal from Adelaide Government House reads: "In moving forward to recover the machine gun where three of his comrades had fallen, Corporal Ashton faced almost certain death.
"For the next 30 minutes of the engagement, he unhesitatingly exposed himself to danger as he directed fire from his machine gun on to the enemy."
The encounter is just one recollection from Mr Ashton's two-year service.
He witnessed the devastation of landmines on his own troops and the immense impact war had on the Vietnamese.
Mr Ashton is the president of Deloraine RSL sub-branch and the guest speaker for its 11am Anzac Day service.
Mr Ashton's speech will not feature acts of gallantry.
"I developed my own thoughts about who I am with the experience that I've had," he said.
"It's brought me to this point now where I'm keen to promote non-violent resolution of conflicts."