APA Disabled War Vet Hopes Next Step Will be Congress
The Army major proved she could hang with the boys in uniform, but what about the men in the nation’s capital?
L. Tammy Duckworth knows she’s making history. Since her March 21 primary win enabled her to vie for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, the media has been transfixed on her physical disabilities. An Iraqi war veteran who lost both legs in a grenade attack, Duckworth hits the campaign trail in a wheelchair or on prosthetic legs. But if she wins her bid to represent Illinois’ 6th District in November, she will also be the first female Asian Pacific American federally elected official from the land of Lincoln.
“I will be the first,” said Duckworth, 38, from her Lombard headquarters. And without missing a beat she adds, “This district is ready for a change.”
A win for Duckworth would usher in a stark change of leadership for Illinois’ 6th District, a suburban area long represented by Republican Henry Hyde, who is retiring after 32 years. In November, Duckworth will face Republican Peter Roskam, a state senator, who has won the vocal support of Vice President Dick Cheney.
But then again, Duckworth says she’s used to challenges.
The Democratic candidate, who was born in Thailand, is also used to being a pioneer. When she was first commissioned for service, she chose to become a pilot because it was the only way to get into combat at the time. For her, the decision was a matter of fairness — male soldiers in the same position had the choice to enter combat, she simply wanted the same choice.
“I didn’t want to face less danger just because I’m female,” said Duckworth, who grew up with dual identities. Her father, Franklin Duckworth, has a long history of service to the country dating back to the Revolutionary War. Her mother, Lamai Sompornpairinis, is first generation.
“I have the incredible luck of being a daughter of a son of the Revolutionary War and also the daughter of a new immigrant.”
With her record of bravery, leadership and education — she has a Masters degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and a doctorate in progress — Duckworth has won the support of Democratic leaders like Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Mike Honda. She entered the race three months ago and pulled out a victory against fellow Democrats Christine Cegelis and Lindy Scott.
“Tammy Duckworth is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever had the fortune to meet,” said Durbin in an e-mail to the Pacific Citizen. “When I first met her, she was just beginning to recover from her war wounds and was adamant that she would be back in the pilot seat soon. That’s the sort of determination that makes Tammy a strong candidate for Congress.”
Perspectives in New Identities
“I spoke only Thai until I was eight years old … I consider myself a proud American, but my cravings usually call for Asian food,” Duckworth said with a laugh. “I’d be perfectly happy with rice, shoyu [and] pickled cucumbers.”
Growing up in Southeast Asia where her father worked with the United Nations, her days were filled with cultural activities of dance and cooking. But the self-proclaimed tomboy always had more worldly aspirations: she dreamt of becoming a U.S. ambassador.
Military service, however, was in her blood. Duckworth joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) where she met her husband Army National Guard Capt. Bryan Bowlsbey. Soon she was flying Blackhawk helicopters through war torn Iraq.
On Nov. 12, 2004, Duckworth was piloting a mission when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded at her feet. At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, she woke up from a 10-day coma without her legs. Her right side was so severely injured only two-inches of leg was left after amputation. Suddenly Duckworth inherited a new identity: disabled veteran.
“Everybody has their moments. Sometimes I get tired of my body not being as strong as it was. Sometimes I just want to get up and walk to the kitchen to get a drink, but I can’t. Instead I have to drag myself off the couch, get into my chair … I can’t balance a cup on my lap because I have one knee. It’s a big effort.”
But her spirit remains indomitable.
“I could’ve died,” she stretches out the vowels. “Frankly, I’m darn lucky. At the end of the day, yeah, my legs are gone, but there are triple amputees out there.”
While recuperating, Duckworth was presented with an Air Medal, an Army Commendation Medal and a Purple Heart. She was promoted to major Dec. 21.
Talking Tough Issues
Away from the war fields she discovered new battles to wage and at the top of the list of program’s to fix: the nation’s flagging healthcare system and Medicare Part D.
“We need to catch and take care of the vulnerable.
“I definitely have the resources to overcome my disabilities,” she said. “I’ve got the very best health care and I’m walking today because of prostheses. If instead I had gotten into a car accident, my husband and I would be bankrupt even though we had good civilian health insurance.
“The fact that I am walking on prostheses is very remarkable. I go to Walter Reed ever six to eight weeks and I think I will continue for the rest of my life because I have such an active lifestyle.”
Duckworth is one of the nine Iraqi war veterans running for Congress. She’s proud of her service and her comrades, but she will be the first to say the war was a mistake.
“We need to be more aggressive in training the Iraqi forces. We need to pull out gradually and leave the Iraqi police forces to govern themselves,” said Duckworth.
She is also sounding off about the hot-button topic of illegal immigration and the Sensenbrenner-King Bill, which in recent weeks has excited mass protests across the nation. She calls the bill, which would criminalize all undocumented workers and their employers, “punitive and unrealistic.”
“My mother is a new immigrant and nobody comes to this country to be prosecuted. They don’t come work menial jobs because it’s a hoot … they do it for their families and to achieve the American dream,” said Duckworth who favors the McCain-Kennedy Bill’s plan of establishing a multi-step path for undocumented workers to become citizens.
“She understands the issues that keep the people of Illinois’ 6th Congressional District up at night. And, if elected, she’ll be an effective advocate for Asian Americans, veterans and persons with disabilities,” said Durbin.
Until the November general elections, Duckworth will be active on the campaign trail in hopes of become a groundbreaking APA leader. To inspire her journey, she thinks about the courage of the Nisei and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team to give her strength.
“I want to be there when we next vote to go to war,” she said. “I want to be responsible and I want to make sure we have a plan.”
Get to Know …
Ladda Tammy Duckworth, 38
Democratic candidate for Illinois’ 6th District
Honors: Highly decorated veteran including Army Commendation Medal & Purple Heart
Education: Master’s in International Affairs and in the process of a doctorate in Political Science at Northern Illinois University; published environmental author.
On Iraq: “We should have focused our military resources instead on pursuing the terrorists who attacked our country and on capturing Osama Bin Laden.”
On Veterans’ Issues: “I have buddies both there [in Iraq] and home, and I tell them they have no stronger voice than mine for veterans’ rights.”
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