What a difference four years can make!  In 2004 Army Blackhawk pilot Tammy Duckworth was in Iraq watching the Democratic Convention, this year she was a featured speaker in Denver, Colorado at the 2008 Nominating Convention.


On November 12th, 2004, only 8 days after George W. Bush was confirmed for his second presidential term, Captain Duckworth was flying just above the treetops in Baghdad at over 130 miles per hour.  Duckworth, a captain with the Illinois National Guard, commanded 42 soldiers; she even cancelled her unit re-assignment so she could accompany her combat unit to Iraq. 

Chief Warrant Officer Dan Milberg was at the controls of the Blackhawk when the insurgents’ rocket-propelled grenade hit the belly of the aircraft directly under Duckworth.  Milberg, convinced she had to be dead, helped drag her bloody body to a second Blackhawk, honoring the soldier’s creed to “never leave a fallen comrade.”

Eight days later, Duckworth woke up at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C., unaware she had lost both legs.  A lengthy period of rehabilitation and learning to walk with prosthetic limbs ensued.

During this period, Duckworth had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of both Barak Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, and former Army Lt. Robert J. Dole, Senate majority leader and wounded World War II veteran.  Both men often visited Walter Reed without fanfare to express the country’s gratitude for a soldier’s sacrifice and to give support to the recovering wounded warriors.

These visits and encouragement helped Duckworth understand that she had more to accomplish in life. She thought about the public service of other veterans such as Dole, John F. Kennedy and Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), and their Vietnam War-era brethren, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.).

With the support and encouragement of her family and the Illinois political establishment, Duckworth chose to run for the state’s 6th Congressional District seat in 2006.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Duckworth recognized that her war service and disability could and would be an issue in the campaign. "I can't avoid the interest in the fact that I'm an injured female soldier…understand that I'm going to use this as a platform."  Duckworth narrowly lost the election in 2006, but she had received national notoriety and was recognized as a rising star in Illinois political circles.  Ultimately, Duckworth was appointed by the governor as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs where she has tirelessly fought for funding of health care for other wounded veterans.  In a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune, Duckworth said “the most important thing we need is assured funding for the Federal Veterans Administration. The Federal VA should get the budget it needs to take care of all of our veterans so it does not have to ration care.”

With her recent assent into the national political scene, Major Tammy Duckworth was the final speaker before Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden on Day 3 of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  Duckworth used the opportunity to call for better funding for the VA, and to lend her name to her favorite candidate.  To listen to her complete address, click here.

Duckworth found the entire experience “really very emotional,” the democratic process reminded her why she wore the uniform of the United States Army. 

The rumor and hope in Illinois is that Senator Obama vacates his current Senate seat for a higher office, and Illinois Governor Blagojevich will appoint Duckworth to fill the vacancy and become Illinois' next junior U.S. Senator.

When asked about the potential appointment, Duckworth astutely answered that “all I am thinking about right now is the fact that four years ago I was watching the Convention from Iraq. I was literally 60 days away from getting blown up. One mission at a time; this mission right now is to make sure we have some hope for America, and that it becomes a reality.”

Regardless of the results of the November election, it is apparent that Duckworth will remain a force on the National political stage.  Her experience, drive, and desire for service will obviously keep her politically involved.  Even with all she has accomplished in only the last few years, she still says "I know this sounds really corny, but I've just got to be more," Duckworth says. "I've got to be more than I was."