Despite dodging bullets and facing down heavily armed militia during his stint as an unarmed UN peacekeeper in East Timor two decades ago, former federal police officer Peter Watt describes himself as "one of the lucky ones".
As East Timor celebrates the 20th anniversary of its transition to democracy, the role played by Mr Watt and dozens of other AFP officers - including the ACT's current Chief Police Officer Ray Johnson - in helping to create the new South Pacific nation is all-too-rarely told.
Mr Watt went into East Timor as a police peacekeeper at a particularly turbulent time, while it was still part of Indonesia, and on the eve of the historic 1999 election.
His diaries have formed the basis of a vivid account of those harrowing days when those in the UN's famous blue helmets stood watch over a very thin blue line, with anarchy a heartbeat away.
His wife Tammy produced a manuscript which has now become the book Scorched Earth, a compelling account of the tense period when Australian police officers played a pivotal role in the young nation's history.
The AFP's contribution to the international mission in East Timor put officers like Mr Watt on the ground at key places like regional polling booths.
Despite reassurances from the Indonesian military that they would provide security, the Australians knew that, behind the scenes, the militia were conducting a bloodthirsty campaign of intimidation.
CPO Johnson, then a sergeant, went into East Timor in May 1999 as part of the logistics team.
"It was a very tense period; as peacekeepers we didn't carry any weapons and there were significant threats and exercises in intimidation against us and the local people who were helping us and helping to run the election," he said.
"We did the best we could do under the circumstances, but all we could do was negotiate."
Mr Watt and CPO Johnson were then among the 2475 Australians evacuated from East Timor during the post-election unrest, as angry mobs looted and burned buildings throughout the capital.
Both men have since been back, and readily admit that doing so has helped bring a sense of closure to their participation in the mission.
One of the enduring memories which Mr Watt has is of the huge crowds at the regional polling booth in Glenco, outside Dili, on the day of the election - captured in a couple of grainy photographs.
"It was an extraordinary moment in time," he said.
"Thousands of people had first come to register, and then returned again on polling day to cast their vote.
"There were pregnant women, women carrying babies, and the elderly who all rose before dawn on voting day and walked for miles in the blazing sun to cast their vote.
"All they wanted was a say in their country's future."
