"I was with my team, sweeping a chokepoint for explosives, when my detector picked up something," Doyle said.

He is not exactly sure of what happened in the next moment- a tiny shuffle of the feet perhaps, or a slight tremor.

The next thing Doyle knew, a blast resonated through his whole body, penetrating his knees and thighs with fragmentation, popping his eardrums and ripping off his pinky.

- Early Days -

Wayne Doyle isn't one of those Marines who grew up obsessed with the idea of one day donning dress blues. It was, in his own words, just something to do after high school that seemed interesting.

"I didn't want to sit around town after graduation, so I tracked down a Marine Corps recruiter and signed up," said the Neversink, N.Y., native, who enlisted on July 27, 1999. "I didn't even know what job I wanted. I just signed an open contract and said 'Send me.'"

Despite his initial nonchalance, Doyle excelled in boot camp, his original military occupational specialty as a military police officer and his current voluntary MOS as an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Doyle said his decision to volunteer for the EOD field was based on a desire to help his fellow Marines.

"When we're in country, EOD technicians are first responders when it comes to supporting misfires, clearing ordnance and disarming improvised explosive devices," Doyle said. "The very nature of our job means mistakes can cost lives.That's why it's important for every Marine to want to be here and be serious about their job. I wanted to be a part of that."

- Aftermath -

Following the devastating blast, Doyle, gravely injured, waited almost three hours before being airlifted to Farah, Afghanistan, for treatment.

After being transferred to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Doyle finally settled at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md., as an inpatient several months after his incident.

Doyle suffered multiple injuries and underwent six surgeries to repair extensive damage to his left forearm, eye damage, soft tissue damage and deep wounds from the fragmentation of the blast.

For the duration of his rehabilitation, Doyle managed to avoid a "woe is me" mentality.

"Bad things beyond your control happen sometimes," Doyle said of his experience. "You just have to suck it up and deal with it."

Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael Sharp, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of EOD Co., said Doyle kept in touch with the unit while in treatment, and stayed upbeat despite his situation.

"He was in pain and his body and feelings were hurt, but he maintained a good attitude," Sharp said. "He knew that even though his condition was bad, it could be worse, and he kept that in mind throughout the tough times."

Doyle said the support of his fellow Marines helped him through some of his darkest hours.

"The fraternity of the Marine Corps runs deep," Doyle said. "I'd never experienced anything like it. I even had Marine spouses coming to visit when their husbands couldn't make it."

After further treatment and rehabilitation at the West Point Medical Center in New York, Doyle finally headed back to Okinawa to rejoin his unit in October 2008.

- Moving On -

Doyle was medically retired in a small ceremony at the EOD Company building on Camp Hansen June 4. His injuries had proven too extensive for him to return to full duty.

Although Doyle did not retire by choice, he said he is looking forward to what life has in store.

"I want to travel with my family and possibly go into turbine or cellular tower maintenance," Doyle said.

Doyle said not obsessing over his experience or his injuries has given him a sense of peace.

"Marines go to war. That's what we do," Doyle said. "If you get hurt you deal with it and keep moving, but you don't stop and feel sorry for yourself."

To Sharp and the other members of EOD Co., Doyle is a humble, if reluctant, hero.

"We've learned strength from Staff Sgt. Doyle," Sharp said. "His strength, perseverance, endurance and humility are my definition of a hero."