January 27, 2006There is someone you should get to know.  Her name is Tammy Duckworth and she is running for Congress in Illinois’ Sixth Congressional District.  The Sixth is now represented by Republican Henry Hyde.  I read about Ms. Duckworth in the Chicago Tribune and determined to find out more about her.  Her story is inspiring.

She is Major Tammy Duckworth of the Illinois National Guard.  She is a helicopter pilot.  She chose that billet because it is one of the few combat roles open to women in the Army.  She went to Iraq as her late father had gone to Vietnam.  She was flying a combat mission when her Black Hawk took a rifle grenade in the cockpit.  Badly wounded she refused to give in to her wounds until her chopper was safely landed and she knew that her crew was safe.  When she woke up in the hospital a couple of weeks later  she had lost two legs and her right arm was badly mangled. 

It would have been easy for her to give up and settle for the role as a disabled veteran.  But that is not Tammy Duckworth.  She spent the next two years in rehabilitation, learning how to walk on her two prosthetic legs and get the most use from her right arm.  She was determined not to give up and set her goal to sit behind the controls in command of her Black Hawk again. 

At home again and with the staunch support of her husband she has taken on a new challenge.  She is the Democratic candidate to succeed Henry Hyde.  She is working to serve her country once again.  You can learn more about Major Duckworth at her campaign web site:  http://www.duckworthforcongress.com

Visit it and read more of her story.  Google her name and read the press accounts of her heroism and her new cause.  Take the time to explore and, by all means, send her a donation on line.  Major Duckworth is the kind of person we need in Congress.  She is someone who understands what America is supposed to be.