Air Force Tech Sgt. Israel Del Toro says there was a moment after he was severely injured in an IED attack in Afghanistan in 2005 that he wished he had died. 

Suffering from third degree burns over 80% of his body, he saw his face for the first time in the mirror and broke down. He was afraid that his son, who was just three years old at the time, would be afraid of him. DT (as his friends call him) credits his wife and his physical therapist for convincing him that all his son wanted was a father. And they were right.

When DT's son finally had a chance to see him for the first time, he gave his dad a big hug and the rest is history. DT moved on to became the first 100% combat-disabled Air Force technician to re-enlist. He has competed in the Warrior Games every year since its inception in 2010 and says the camaraderie can't be beat.  He says his dream will be complete when he's able to retire from the military on his own terms.

DT was one of five veterans who sat down for a discussion with HLN's Robin Meade. You can watch that full conversation here.