Amidst the chaos that was the 2016 presidential election, there were a lot of good things to happen to our county that almost everyone can agree with. One such thing is the story of Illinois’ senator-elect and Purple Heart winner Tammy Duckworth.
The story of her journey is incredible. It starts when she graduated from George Washington University in 1990 and joined ROTC out of a desire to follow in her father’s footsteps and serve her country. Following graduate school, Duckworth became an officer in the Army Reserves and flew helicopters, which was one of the few jobs available to women in the army at the time. However, she did not let that deter her; she was determined to dedicate herself to our country in whatever way she could.
In 2004, Duckworth was deployed to Iraq. Tragically, in November of that same year, her helicopter was shot down by an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) and she lost both of her legs. But not even this could stop her from answering her ultimate call: after receiving the Purple Heart for her dedication to her country, she continued to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel until 2014.
In addition to a long and storied military career, Duckworth has a long list of other accomplishments, including serving on both the Illinois and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, and having been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. This coming January, she will also have a seat waiting for her in the Senate.
Regardless of political alignments, Duckworth’s story can serve as an inspiration to anyone who is facing adversity and needs a reminder that even when it might be difficult to persevere, facing hard times can be worthwhile in the end. Tammy Duckworth can remind us all, including myself, to be dedicated and ambitious, and to strive for greatness in everything that we do.
Images: 1
A. (2016, November 10). If You Don’t Know The Badass Story of Purple Heart Winner And Senator-Elect Tammy Duckworth, Read This Now. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from http://totalfratmove.com/tammy-duckworth-illinois-senator-american-aweso…