In honor of the 'herstory' we never learned in school, this page is dedicated to women in history whose courage and integrity, compassion and strength, talent and creativity has changed lives for the better. Each week we will feature one of them.
Ladda Tammy Duckworth was born on March 12, 1968 in Bangkok, Thailand, the daughter of a US Marine, Frank, and his wife Lamai, a Thai native. She was educated at George Washington University, University of Hawaii and Northern Illinois University.
An Iraq War veteran, Tammy Duckworth served as a US Army helicopter pilot and suffered severe combat wounds, losing both of her legs and damaging her right arm. She was the first female double amputee from the war. Having received a medical waiver, she continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard along with her husband, Major Bryan W. Bowlsbey, a signal officer and fellow Iraq War veteran. Ms. Duckworth helped establish the "Intrepid Foundation" and is involved in its fundraising to build a rehabilitation center for other injured veterans. Ms. Duckworth called for improvements in veterans health care and mandatory funding of veterans' health care, rather than discretionary funding that could change with political winds; she also wants improvements in transition assistance for those returning to civilian life, particularly for those with disabilities. Duckworth also wanted the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire more veterans as doctors and nurses because they understand what combat veterans face, and she wants the VA to prepare for the possibility of severe respiratory problems in the future for Iraq war veterans.
Tammy Duckworth has served as the US Representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district since 2013.
An Iraq War veteran, Tammy Duckworth served as a US Army helicopter pilot and suffered severe combat wounds, losing both of her legs and damaging her right arm. She was the first female double amputee from the war. Having received a medical waiver, she continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard along with her husband, Major Bryan W. Bowlsbey, a signal officer and fellow Iraq War veteran. Ms. Duckworth helped establish the "Intrepid Foundation" and is involved in its fundraising to build a rehabilitation center for other injured veterans. Ms. Duckworth called for improvements in veterans health care and mandatory funding of veterans' health care, rather than discretionary funding that could change with political winds; she also wants improvements in transition assistance for those returning to civilian life, particularly for those with disabilities. Duckworth also wanted the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire more veterans as doctors and nurses because they understand what combat veterans face, and she wants the VA to prepare for the possibility of severe respiratory problems in the future for Iraq war veterans.
Tammy Duckworth has served as the US Representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district since 2013.
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