Tammy Duckworth talks about how pulling together saved her life

Duckworth touts Obama record at DNC convention

Charlotte, NC, USA
By Rick Pearson
Tribune reporter
September 4, 2012

Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night. (Nancy Stone, Chicago Tribune / September 4, 2012)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday night used her brief time on the Democratic National Convention to tout home-state President Barack Obama rather than her own political future.

For Duckworth, who is running in a northwest suburban district against tea party-backed freshman Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, it was the second appearance on the national stage in two consecutive conventions. The story of her rescue after the Blackhawk assault helicopter she was piloting was shot down in Iraq in 2004 provided the theme for her speech.

“In that moment, my survival — and the survival of my entire crew — depended on all of us pulling together. And even though they were wounded themselves, and insurgents were nearby, they simply refused to leave a fallen comrade behind. Their heroism is why I’m alive today,” said Duckworth, who lost both legs and partial use of her right arm in the attack.

“Ultimately that is what this election is about,” said Duckworth, who drew chants of “USA! USA!” “It’s about whether we do for our fellow Americans what my crew did for me, whether we’ll look out for the hardest hit and the disabled, whether we’ll pull together in a time of need, whether we’ll refuse to give up until the job is done.”
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